Sugaree
January 29th, 2008, 04:31 PM
Barbaro's ashes to be buried at Churchill Downs
By Will Graves AP Sports Writer January 29, 2008
Louisville,Kentucky (AP) - - Barbaro's ashes to be buried at the track of his greatest triumph
The 2006 Kentucky Derby champion, who was euthanized January 29,2007 from complications of a breakdown suffered at the Preakness, will have his ashes interred at Churchill Downs.
Barbaro's remains will be placed outside of an entrace gate in an elevated space enclosed by bricks.The site will also have a bronze statue funded by the owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson and loaned to the track for the memorial site. The track will install a bronze marker and formally dedicated as an official memorial in 2009.
Gretchen Jackson said that Churchill Downs would be the perfect place to honor the colt, who won the Derby by 6-1/2 lengths before suffering his injury two weeks later at the Preakness.
"The Derby was the greatest race that Barbaro ran," said Gretchen Jackson "When we think of Barbaro, we think of him running around the track out there. We'll always have that joyus memory"
The Jacksons wrestled with the decision as to were to bury the colt for months.The Lexington Horse Park in Kentucky was one of just several places that offered to accomodate the Jacksons.
Finally, they said that they wanted the public to visit the memorial whenever possible. "After the Derby and after he got injured, he really became America's horse," Roy Jackson added "We sort of felt an obligation that his remains and statue be erected someplace where the general public can pay their respects."
As spectacular as the colt's career was, he didn't become famous until he broke his left hind leg just a few hundred yards into the Preakness. His eight months of struggling to survive captured the hearts of the whole world. Fans set up Web sites, and well-wishers flooded the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square,Pa., and Churchill Downs with cards and gifts.
"His accomplishments as a racehorse are certainly rivaled by his courage and resolve he displayed during his injury," said Churchill Downs president Steve Saxon said.
Pictures of the colt from his races and rehab for his leg injury flashed above the stage before the Jacksons spoke. They smiled when a small film was shown when schoolchildren expressed their love for Barbaro and showing their pictures for the horse during his injury.
Barbaro will be the first horse that won the Kentucky Derby to be buried at Churchill Downs. Four previous winners Sunny's Halo, Carry Back, Swaps and Broker's Tip are interred at the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is adjacent to the track.
updated on Tuesday January 29, 2008
By Will Graves AP Sports Writer January 29, 2008
Louisville,Kentucky (AP) - - Barbaro's ashes to be buried at the track of his greatest triumph
The 2006 Kentucky Derby champion, who was euthanized January 29,2007 from complications of a breakdown suffered at the Preakness, will have his ashes interred at Churchill Downs.
Barbaro's remains will be placed outside of an entrace gate in an elevated space enclosed by bricks.The site will also have a bronze statue funded by the owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson and loaned to the track for the memorial site. The track will install a bronze marker and formally dedicated as an official memorial in 2009.
Gretchen Jackson said that Churchill Downs would be the perfect place to honor the colt, who won the Derby by 6-1/2 lengths before suffering his injury two weeks later at the Preakness.
"The Derby was the greatest race that Barbaro ran," said Gretchen Jackson "When we think of Barbaro, we think of him running around the track out there. We'll always have that joyus memory"
The Jacksons wrestled with the decision as to were to bury the colt for months.The Lexington Horse Park in Kentucky was one of just several places that offered to accomodate the Jacksons.
Finally, they said that they wanted the public to visit the memorial whenever possible. "After the Derby and after he got injured, he really became America's horse," Roy Jackson added "We sort of felt an obligation that his remains and statue be erected someplace where the general public can pay their respects."
As spectacular as the colt's career was, he didn't become famous until he broke his left hind leg just a few hundred yards into the Preakness. His eight months of struggling to survive captured the hearts of the whole world. Fans set up Web sites, and well-wishers flooded the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square,Pa., and Churchill Downs with cards and gifts.
"His accomplishments as a racehorse are certainly rivaled by his courage and resolve he displayed during his injury," said Churchill Downs president Steve Saxon said.
Pictures of the colt from his races and rehab for his leg injury flashed above the stage before the Jacksons spoke. They smiled when a small film was shown when schoolchildren expressed their love for Barbaro and showing their pictures for the horse during his injury.
Barbaro will be the first horse that won the Kentucky Derby to be buried at Churchill Downs. Four previous winners Sunny's Halo, Carry Back, Swaps and Broker's Tip are interred at the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is adjacent to the track.
updated on Tuesday January 29, 2008