The Kentucky Derby Museum
announces an exciting opportunity for students!
The Kentucky Derby Museum honors the history of the Kentucky Derby, as well as the memory of the special horses and jockeys who bring so much excitement and passion to the sport. With that in mind, we announce a student sculptural art exhibition to honor a very special horse, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro.
Barbaro will be remembered for his six first place finishes, including the Derby which he dominated by 6 _ lengths. Two short weeks later with rumblings of Triple Crown possibilities at a full roar, he shattered his leg in the Preakness. The heroic struggle that followed created a swell of national attention and support for this racing champion.
Barbaro's heroic struggle especially impacted the hearts of children from across the nation. To honor this connection to children everywhere, the Kentucky Derby Museum will host a student exhibition of sculpture called Barbaro: Expressions of Love. These works of art should celebrate Barbaro's courage in the face of a long struggle. The Kentucky Derby Museum is accepting submissions for the exhibition beginning immediately, and continuing through March 15th, 2009. Log onto www.derbymuseum.org for details on how to submit. All pieces meeting the requirements will be displayed within the museum.
Attached you will find the guidelines for the exhibition, along with a submission form.
We look forward to your participation and to seeing the youthful expressions of love for Barbaro.
Lynn Ashton
Executive Director
DOWNLOAD SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINE
Churchill Downs and Barbaro Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson Introduce Artist Selected to Create Barbaro Memorial, Unveil Temporary Marker
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 22, 2008) - 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 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 at 1:30 p.m. EDT in the Great Hall of the Kentucky Derby Museum on May 1. 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.
Barbaro Timeline:
2006
May 6:
Barbaro wins the Kentucky Derby by 6 _ lengths for sixth straight first place finish
May 20:
Breaks down at the start of the Preakness after a false start through the gate; shatters three bones in right hind leg.
May 21:
Undergoes five hours of surgery at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, PA; surgeon Dean Richardson calls chance of survival a “coin toss”.
May 22: With a fiberglass cast from hock to hoof, settles into stall in intensive care unit.
May 30: Jockey Edgar Prado visits Barbaro at New Bolton Center.
June 10: Jazil wins Belmont Stakes
July 8: Develops potentially serious complications to his injured leg, and undergoes surgery to fight an infection at the titanium plate where 27 screws were inserted. Cast is replaced for the fourth time.
July 11: An infection- which turns out to be laminitis- discovered in left hind foot.
Aug. 3: Left hind hoof shows positive signs of re-growth.
Aug. 10: Grazes outside for the first time.
Nov. 6: Cast removed from right leg. Left hoof appears to be healed.
2007
Jan. 13, 2007: Surgery removes part of damaged hoof wall on left hind foot.
Jan. 24, 2007: Barbaro struggles to recover.
Jan. 29, 2007: Euthanized at the New Bolton Center. Barbaro is cremated.
Jan. 29, 2008: Roy and Gretchen Jackson announce that Barbaro will be interred in front of the Museum, at Gate 1 of Churchill Downs.
Barbaro in a place of honor
Barbaro- a horse named after a dog featured in an old painting found in the attic of a relative. A horse with a name that will long be remembered as an icon that captured the hearts of horse fans around the world. Now, a horse who will be memorialized at the site of his greatest race… although perhaps further revered for his greater strength in the face of injury.
One year after Barbaro's death (on January 29th, 2007) his owners and breeders, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, announced that he will be buried here at Churchill Downs at the front entrance of the Kentucky Derby Museum. The Jacksons will commission a larger than life-size bronze to commemorate his great racing success and pay tribute to his amazing story.
The Jacksons had been considering alternate sites for Barbaro's remains but ultimately decided there was only one right choice, “We felt a real sense of wanting to make the correct decision,” Gretchen Jackson said. “It took a heck of a long time. I don't know why it did, but we just wrestled with it for quite some time.”
“After the Derby and then when he got injured, he really became America's horse,” Roy Jackson added. “We sort of felt an obligation that his remains and statue be erected someplace where the general public could pay their respects.”
“In the year that has just preceded, we have spent much time thinking about Barbaro's memorial and where it would be best placed. Churchill Downs became the obvious site for us. It was here that he ran his best race. It was here where we spent our most memorable day as horse owners and breeders. It was here where his racing fans could visit daily,” said Gretchen Jackson.
Barbaro will be remembered for his six first place finishes, including the Derby which he dominated by 6 _ lengths. Two short weeks later with rumblings of Triple Crown possibilities at a full roar, he shattered his leg in the Preakness. The heroic struggle that followed created a swell of national attention and support for this racing champion.
“My memory is Barbaro running down the stretch with all four feet off the ground,” Roy Jackson said.
That poise in motion is now a challenge for sculptors to capture in his memorial. The Jacksons plan to decide on the final design for the bronze statue in the spring of this year. Barbaro will be interred in the spring of 2009 upon completion of the memorial.
Look for a special exhibit inside the Kentucky Derby Museum at the open of the fall race meet (October) to chronicle Barbaro's life.
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