The inspiring story of the struggle to save Barbaro has led to the development of an exhibit on equine medicine – Ride On! – that will be presented at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame this summer.
The exhibit is scheduled to open in the Peter McBean Gallery on July 20, 2008. Beth Sheffer, the Museum’s newly named Curator of Collections, is the curator.
“We will focus on what is being done now and what was done in the past to heal Thoroughbred race horses, as well as the challenges involved with dealing with a horse,” she said.
Two weeks after his riveting performance in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Barbaro suffered catastrophic injuries to his right rear leg in the early stages of the Preakness. He was quickly transported to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, where a team led by Dr. Dean Richardson repaired the damage. After nine months of successes and setbacks that were closely followed by people across the continent, Barbaro was euthanized when it was determined he could not recover from the hoof ailment laminitis.
The work of Richardson and his colleagues at New Bolton with Barbaro increased public awareness of equine veterinary medicine. During that period, a proposal to do an exhibit based on Barbaro evolved into one centered on the medical treatment of the stars of the sport for laminitis, colic and broken bones.
Sheffer said the problems faced by Barbaro and Secretariat will be examined, as will the stories of other notable horses, like Tim Tam and Spanish Riddle.
In her outline of the project, Sheffer said visitors would be provided with perspective. “The first section of the exhibit is designed to explain why we have such a love affair with the horse,” she said. “It also discusses the specific feelings a racehorse invokes as a sports hero.”
Besides the anatomy of the horse, the exhibit will show how injuries can occur on and off the track, surgical procedures, lameness issues and the healing process. Sean Pickard, the Museum’s Information Technology Manger, is developing a three-dimensional model of the anatomy of a racehorse for the exhibit.
Sheffer said at a number of organizations and individuals in racing are helping in the development of the exhibit. However, she is still seeking additional materials, including fan mail, memorabilia, videos, movies and promotional information supporting equine medical research.
