Tue Jan 29 10:38:57 2008

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Churchill Downs to be final resting place for Barbaro

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Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - On the one year anniversary of Barbaro's death, the owners of the former Kentucky Derby champion announced that the ill-fated thoroughbred's ashes will be buried at Churchill Downs.

The announcement came at a news conference Tuesday morning at the historic racetrack.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson stated that Barbaro's ashes will be buried outside Churchill Downs' Gate One in the center of a brick plaza. A statue of Barbaro will be erected to mark the gravesite, and a temporary bronze marker will be installed to indicate the location.

The Jacksons have been mulling the final resting place of Barbaro's ashes since he died last year. Several locations were under consideration, including Delaware Park -- where Barbaro began his career -- as well as the Jacksons' home state of Pennsylvania.

Following his 6 1/2-length win in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Barbaro suffered a devastating injury to his rear right leg in the Preakness Stakes. He underwent surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's Bolton Center, where he remained until his death. The colt went through months of treatment, but was humanely destroyed after complications from laminitis.

Fans of Barbaro will be able to visit the gravesite without going inside Churchill Downs or the Kentucky Derby Museum. Barbaro will be the fifth Kentucky Derby winner to be buried at Churchill, joining Brokers Tip, Carry Back, Sunny's Halo and Swaps.