Roy and Gretchen Jackson

With owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson looking on, a life-sized sculpture of ill-fated 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was unvieled on Sunday, April 26 at Churchill Downs.

The Jacksons were joined by trainer Michael Matz and Dr. Dean Richardson, the equine surgeon from the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania who worked so valiantly to save Barbaro's life, and hundreds of well-wishers as the work by sculptor Alexa King was formally unveiled.  King also participated in the ceremonies.  The sculpture is the dominant portion of a memorial to Barbaro, who was seriously injured in the early stages of the Preakness, the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown, just two weeks after the then-unbeaten colt had scored the most lopsided victory in the Kentucky Derby in 60 years.

Richardson and his team had managed to save Barbaro despite massive damage to a rear leg, but the colt succumbed to the hoof disease laminitis in early 2007.  His eight-month battle for life garnered world-wide attention from media, racing fans and horse lovers around the globe.

Barbaro was cremated and his remains are interred at the memorial site at Churchill Downs' Gate 1.  The site is located a short distance from the one-mile track at Churchill Downs where Barbaro, ridden by Edgar Prado, scored the greatest victory of his brief career.  

The Barbaro Memorial is located in an open area outside of the admission gates at Churchill Downs.  There is no charge to visit the memorial site.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will join Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum representatives for a news conference on Thursday, May 1, to introduce the artist that has been selected to create a permanent memorial honoring Barbaro.  The Kentucky Derby 132 winner died in January 2007 after a lengthy battle with laminitis. 

The memorial, a bronze sculpture, will be placed outside Churchill Downs’ Gate 1 along with Barbaro’s ashes sometime next year. The Jacksons, the artist and representatives of Churchill Downs will be available for comment, and a clay model of the sculpture will be available for photo and video opportunities. Additionally, the Jacksons and Museum officials will announce a national student art exhibition related to Barbaro’s memorial that will be hosted by the Museum.

The news conference will take place on Thursday, May 1, at 1:30 p.m. EDT in the Great Hall of the Kentucky Derby Museum. Following the news conference, the Jacksons will join Churchill Downs and Museum officials in unveiling a bronze marker that will identify the spot where Barbaro’s memorial will be installed in front of Gate 1.

        Churchill Downs will be open for racing on May 1, and media representatives coming to the track to cover the news conference should park in the Longfield Lot, enter Churchill Downs through Gate 10, and cross through the paddock area to Gate 1 and the main entrance to the Kentucky Derby Museum. Parking in Churchill Downs’ Lot 1 is also available to media with Lot 1 parking passes. Media representatives should wear their Kentucky Derby credentials in order to access Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum on May 1.

       <strong> NOTE:  This news conference is for credentialed media members ONLY and is not open to the general public.</strong>

        Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track.  Churchill Downs will conduct the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008.  The track’s 2008 Spring Meet is set for April 26 through July 6.  Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will participate in a news conference at Churchill Downs on Tuesday, Jan. 29, to make a special announcement.

The news conference will take place at 10 a.m. EST in the Triple Crown Room of the Jockey Club Suites. Media wishing to cover the event should park in Churchill Downs’ preferred lot off Central Avenue and enter the racetrack through Gate 1 (adjacent to the Kentucky Derby Museum).

Following the announcement, Barbaro fans will have an opportunity to meet the Jacksons during a charity autograph signing in the lobby of the Kentucky Derby Museum from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Jacksons will sign Barbaro-related merchandise and mementos for a suggested donation to benefit The Fund for Laminitis Research at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. The Jacksons will also be available for individual media interviews at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Churchill Downs will provide a satellite feed with b-roll and interviews from the Jan. 29 news conference. Satellite coordinates will be provided later today in follow-up Media Advisory.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008. The track’s 2008 Spring Meet is set for April 26 through July 6. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.