By now, Barbaro should have been close to casting aside any doubts that he could make a full recovery from the devastating right hind leg injuries he suffered at the Preakness Stakes.

Instead, the winner of the Kentucky Derby still has a tedious, long recovery ahead because of the often-fatal disease that’s stricken his left hind leg.

Dean Richardson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, said Tuesday that the painful hoof disease the colt has is preventing the cast on his right hind from being removed because the colt could not protect himself by bearing more weight on the left hind.

Barbaro suffered life-threatening injuries when he broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the May 20 Preakness