Barbaro enjoying quiet holiday weekend

‘There is nothing to report, and that’s good news,’ hospital official says

Sabina Louise Pierce / AP

Veterinary resident Dr. Steven Zedler stands in the stall with Barbaro.

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Exercise rider Michelle Nevin and a groom walk Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the paddock before the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

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updated 2:30 p.m. ET May 28, 2006

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. - Barbaro is enjoying a quiet Memorial Day weekend, good news for the Kentucky Derby winner who is a week removed from surgery for a life-threatening injury.

“Barbaro is doing very well and seems perfectly content spending his holiday weekend at New Bolton Center receiving abundant carrots, apples and veterinary attention,” said Corinne Sweeney, executive director at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.

Barbaro broke down May 20 shortly after leaving the starting gate at Pimlico Race Course, shattering bones in his right hind leg. The bay colt was rushed from Baltimore to the New Bolton Center and underwent six hours of surgery the next day.

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He remains in the intensive care unit, and doctors have said it could be months before they know if the colt can survive what have been termed catastrophic injuries that leave him vulnerable to infection and other life-threatening complications.

The former Triple Crown contender had an uneventful week, and that’s a good thing, Sweeney said.

“There is nothing to report, and that’s good news,” Sweeney said. “It’s sort of business as usual, a regular day in ICU.”

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Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby by 6½ lengths and was expected to make a Triple Crown bid before a sudden misstep early in the Preakness ended his racing career. Depending on his recovery, he might still have a career as a stud.