Barbaro still has the look of a champion. One month after the Kentucky Derby winner's life-threatening injury in the Preakness Stakes, the colt remains in the intensive care unit at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. But he's making such steady improvement that even surgeon Dean Richardson can't help but smile when discussing the world's most famous equine patient.

"This horse has had a remarkably smooth progression of events; he's just done everything right so far," Richardson said. "He's a lively, bright, happy horse. If you asked me a month ago, I would have gladly accepted where we are today."

In his spacious corner stall, Barbaro sports a new fiberglass cast that protects the injuries to his right hind ankle. Although he appears friendly, a note on his stall door reads: "Caution: Bites."

"When someone walks in the door, he's ready to head out -- not because he's bored or frustrated, but because he's full of energy," said Dr. Corinne Sweeney, the hospital's executive director who sees Barbaro nearly every day. "He's been full of energy since he came in here, and he remains that way."

He's still got a long road to recovery, and the staff at the New Bolton Center knows complications could develop at any time.

Richardson is guardedly optimistic. He says the odds of survival are "going up." The next major concern is the healing process: Will the bones heal before the hardware holding them together begins to loosen?

Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who live down the road in West Grove, Pa., are daily visitors, as is trainer Michael Matz. They remain amazed at the colt's ability to handle so much adversity and at the public's reaction.

"I just can't explain why everyone is so caught up in this horse," Roy Jackson said. "Everything is so negative now in the world. People love animals, and I think they just happen to latch onto him.

"People are looking for a hero, for something positive. The fact that he's gotten through this and is a fighter, people seem to relate to that."

(From AP reports)

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