Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner who had been making steady progress on his road to recovery from an injured right hind leg and a bout of laminitis, suffered a “significant setback” Tuesday night at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.


According to a statement from New Bolton released Wednesday, Jan. 10, Barbaro  “became acutely more uncomfortable on his left hind foot. The foot cast was removed and some new separation of the medial (inside) portion of his hoof was found.  This required some additional debridement (removal of the damaged tissue) last night.”


The setback comes one week after a new cast was put in place on the left hind foot, in which the Dynaformer colt had suffered a severe case of laminitis while being treated for the injury to his right rear leg. Barbaro has been at New Bolton since becoming injured in the May 20 Preakness Stakes and the new cast was designed to stabilize the foot as plans were being made for the colt to be relocated soon.


“He is being treated much more aggressively at this time for his discomfort,” the New Bolton statement said.  “He is continuing to eat well and is otherwise stable

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