Memorializing, Honoring And Celebrating, Barbaro, Our Heroic Racehorse With Heart, And Recognizing, Honoring, And Celebrating, His Owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, For Their Accomplishments And Contributions To The World Of Horseracing And Their Exemplary Display Of Perseverance, Compassion, and Courage That Captured The Hearts Of A Nation.

WHEREAS, Barbaro, an America thoroughbred racehorse, was born on April 29, 2003, and made his home in a local stable; and

WHEREAS, Barbaro was owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson in Pennsylvania, trained by Michael Matz, and ridden by Edgar Prado and Jose Caraballo; and

WHEREAS, The three-year old entered horseracing’s biggest race undefeated, but, still was an underdog, going off at odds of 6:1, yet, emerged the Kentucky Derby’s clear winner by 6 ½ lengths, the largest margin of victory since 1946; and

WHEREAS, Due to his superior performance, Barbaro was immediately touted as the next Triple Crown Winner; and

WHEREAS, In the Preakness, he was off to a good start with great position, when Barbaro had to be pulled up by the experienced jockey, Edgar Prado, and brought to a stop, because he was in obvious distress; and

WHEREAS, Barbaro suffered a severely broken leg in three places; his injuries were life-threatening; and

WHEREAS, Barbaro was taken to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, under the excellent care of Dr. Dean Richardson, where the mighty thoroughbred had undergone multiple surgeries, followed by long, difficult rehabilitations; and

WHEREAS, It was during this most difficult of times where Barbaro, and his owners, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson, showed how really worthy of admiration they were, by keeping their faith and strength, and demonstrating their compassion; and

WHEREAS, Finally, when Barbaro’s suffering became too great, Roy and Gretchen Jackson made the difficult, but necessary, decision to euthanize Barbaro, on January 29, 2007; and

WHEREAS, With his passing, Barbaro will be long-celebrated in our hearts and memories as our heroic racehorse, and Roy and Gretchen Jackson will long be celebrated for their compassion; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it Memorialize, Honor, and Celebrate, Barbaro, Our Heroic Racehorse with Heart, and Recognize, Honor, and Celebrate, his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, for their accomplishments and contributions to the world of horseracing and their exemplary display of perseverance, compassion, and courage that captured the hearts of a nation.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Roy and Gretchen Jackson further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

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