His racing career is over, but for Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby champion, the real race has just begun. He won’t be going it alone, however, judging from the outpouring of support from around the world since his recovery began at The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s famed New Bolton Center. Now, Breyer Animal Creations, makers of the world’s finest model horses, has stepped in to help by creating a Barbaro portrait model horse that will provide a donation to New Bolton from the sale of every Barbaro model.

“I thought that Barbaro was special from the start, but it wasn’t until he was injured that I realized what an amazing horse he really is and how fortunate he was to have the team at the New Bolton Center to care for him.” said Anthony Fleischmann, President of Reeves International, Inc. Breyer’s parent company. “After the Preakness, we were inundated with mail asking us to make a model of Barbaro and I realized Breyer could both honor a great champion and do some good on behalf of Barbaro for all the thousands of horses who rely on New Bolton when they are hurt. We were honored when his owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson agreed.”

“We are so grateful to Dr. Dean Richardson and the entire team at New Bolton that we were very pleased to allow Breyer to create a model of Barbaro that would help raise funds for the hospital. Barbaro has provided so much hope to so many, that it seems right that he can help others,” said Gretchen Jackson, Barbaro’s owner.

After Barbaro’s brilliant romp through the first leg of the Triple Crown, the world watched the unthinkable occur in the second leg, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack. Keen to run, Barbaro broke through the starting gate prematurely. Then, just yards into the race, he took a bad step, shattering his right hind leg. Though his quick-thinking jockey Edgar Prado managed to pull him up and dismount, the classy colt’s will to win had turned into a fight for his life