(Edited Delaware Park report)
Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who died earlier this year, will be honored with a stakes race in his name at Delaware Park.
Delaware Park's Chief Operating Officer Bill Fasy announced Thursday that the track has officially changed the name of the Leonard Richards Stakes to the Barbaro Stakes. Like the Leonard Richard Stakes, The Barbaro, will be a grade III race for three olds and will be run July 15th during Delaware Park's Delaware Handicap weekend, July 14 and 15. This renamed stakes race will continue to feature a guaranteed purse of $300,000.
"Our new Racing Secretary, Ismael "Izzy" Trejo, suggested the idea of The Barbaro Stakes, and we all agreed this was a terrific way to memorialize Barbaro's legacy and to honor the Jackson family and Dr. Dean Richardson ," said Bill Fasy. Added Trejo, "The deep admiration and love everyone felt for Barbaro was truly overwhelming. To be able to honor such a tenaciously spirited horse, whose remarkable career started here at Delaware Park in 2005, with its own Stakes race, makes the racing family here at Delaware Park extremely proud."
Barbaro, who thrilled racing fans with his sublime victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and captivated many millions more worldwide with his gut-wrenching fight for life after suffering a catastrophic breakdown in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), was euthanized Jan. 29.
