Surgeon: Barbaro had 'incredibly good week'

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Richardson said his prized patient has shown the ability to adapt from one extreme to another: Two weeks ago the horse was spending every morning galloping around a track, and now spends 24 hours a day in his 12-by-12 stall barely moving. A good attitude has been a huge help.

“It makes a big difference in terms of how well they rest,” Richardson said. “Certain horses rest well. They figure out how to take care of themselves in a stall, how to lie down and get up without injuring themselves. I think this horse, so far, has shown every evidence that he is that type of horse.

Prado has been asked time and again to replay the start of the Preakness, especially when Barbaro broke early from the gate and was reloaded for the official start. Much has been written about the possibility Barbaro may have been injured the first time out of the gate.

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“He was feeling so good in the post parade, he was ready,” Prado said. “Unfortunately, he heard a noise from the last door (closing) and thought it was time to go.”

Prado said Barbaro pushed open the starting gate, which is controlled by magnets, with his head and front leg but “I didn’t think that was real bad.”

Prado said he checked out the horse, as did a vet at the track, “and he was jogging fine. ... So we led him back into the gate.”

When the field broke, Barbaro got off “nice and clean,” Prado said. He said the colt “took about four strides and then the incident happened.”

“A lot of horses go through the gate and they probably don’t run their race — but they don’t break down three or four jumps out of the gate,” he said.

The Jacksons, meanwhile, are trying to save the best horse they’ve owned in 30 years in the business.

“The chance of running for the Triple Crown in behind us,” Roy Jackson said. “We’re just glad he is doing well and are looking forward to his recovery.”

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