Co-owner Roy Jackson said it still has not been determined where Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro will go once he leaves the New Bolton Center, but that the colt's ability to get regular exercise will be a priority.
Jackson, who with his wife Gretchen owns Barbaro, ruled out the Kentucky Horse Park as a possible location where the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) go once he leaves the equine medical facility at the University of Pennsylvania.
"I wouldn't think that would make a whole lot of sense," Jackson said of the published report that the horse park in Lexington, Ky. could be Barbaro's new home once he leaves New Bolton. "I don't think that would be one of the alternatives."
Barbaro, who has won six of seven career starts and earned $2.3 million, has been at New Bolton under the care of chief of surgery Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at Penn's George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton, since injuring his right hind leg in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Since that time, he has made steady progress in his recovery from that injury and a severe bout of laminitis in his left rear foot.
In the past week, Richardson and the Jacksons have said the Dynaformer colt has sufficiently recovered to the point he will be relocated soon.
"There is no timetable at this moment concerning Barbaro's discharge from the hospital," Richardson said Dec. 20. "His comfort on both hind limbs is good and his overall condition is excellent."
Roy Jackson said no decision has been made on Barbaro's next stop on his road to recovery. He said it has not even been determined which state where he might end up, but that a major consideration is going to be a climate favorable to regular exercise for Barbaro.
"There is nothing concrete (about a new home for Barbaro) but everybody is on the same page that when we get into a period of ice and snow at the facility there, he won't be able to go outside and exercise. The best thing for him is to be able to move around and everybody feels that it would be best if he was at a location where he would be able to do that," Jackson said Thursday, Dec. 21.
Barbaro was examined Tuesday by Dr. Scott Morrison, head of the equine podiatry service at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. According to Barbaro's medical team, Morrison did some minor work on Barbaro's left hind foot, and made recommendations concerning the management of that foot.Â
Jackson said he and his wife continue to visit Barbaro on a daily basis, a schedule that will be maintained through the holidays, including Christmas Day.