March 6, 2007 — In response to consumer demand, Breyer Animal Creations® plans to produce more Barbaro portrait models to commemorate the late racing champion. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the Fund to Fight Laminitis at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
“We have received so many calls, emails and letters from children and adults alike asking us to create more Barbaro models. By honoring those requests, we will also have the opportunity to donate $10 from the sale of each model to the new Laminitis Fund at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, started by his owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson. The fund will support research into this terrible disease which has ended the lives of so many horses, including the valiant Barbaro,” said Anthony Fleischmann, President of Reeves International, Inc., Breyer’s parent company.
Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, was euthanized on January 29, 2007, because of complications from laminitis which developed during his convalescence from surgery. He had a career-ending breakdown in the 2006 Preakness Stakes.
Although Barbaro was a model patient, handling his recovery as bravely as he ran his races, he succumbed to laminitis despite the best efforts of a superb team of veterinary professionals headed by Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center. During that time, the tremendous outpouring of worldwide support and media attention made Barbaro’s fight for his life as well as the eight month struggle to save him, one of the most heartfelt media stories of the year.
Breyer’s Barbaro portrait model can be purchased at www.breyerhorses.com beginning April 2, 2007, and will be available in stores in July.
Visit www.vet.upenn.edu/barbaro to find out more about the Fund to Fight Laminitis.
To learn more about Barbaro’s heroic story, and read about the latest horse health news, check out The Jurga Report on EquiSearch.com.
