The University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center announced today that 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who suffered fractures to his right hind leg shortly after leaving the gate as the favorite in the Preakness Stakes, has had no new setbacks since the development of laminitis in his left hind leg. 

“The shoe on his right hind foot was further modified as his strength improved,” said Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the New Bolton Center. “We are aware that there is some public concern about his abnormal motion on the right hind limb, however, this is not unexpected. His gait may be abnormal as he learns to adapt to having fusions of two major joints in his lower limb and to the special shoe. Although this is visually unattractive, the mechanics of the lower leg are not seriously affected because the pastern and fetlock joints are fused.

“Our goal was to give him a leg that would be functional and comfortable enough to live happily. The right hind has healed well enough that we are optimistic about that possibility,” Richardson added. “However, Barbaro’s left hind foot, which had laminitis, remains a more formidable long-term challenge. The foot must grow much more for him to have a truly successful outcome.”

Barbaro, who has been in the Intensive Care Unit of the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals since his injuries during the Preakness on May 20, is eating well and has a bright eye and happy demeanor, according to his medical team.