HBO Sports, in an effort to increase its stature within and outside the company, is planning to announce soon the production of a documentary about Barbaro, the deceased winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
According to Broadcasting & Cable, the HBO initiatives include the Barbaro movie, a new boxing series, and a possible deal with producer Mark Burnett.
Barbaro, who raced for Roy and Gretchen Jackson and was trained by Michael Matz, was euthanized Jan. 29 due to the effects of laminitis. The colt developed the laminitis in his left rear leg while recovering from injuries sustained in his right rear leg during the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
“We are going to try to explain why Barbaro became so significant and important to the American public. The entire country rallied around this horse,” HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg told Broadcasting & Cable.
The movie is slated to debut the first week of June.