Barbaro with surgeon Dean Richardson and owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson, during the colt’s hospitalization at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. (UPenn photo)

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 at the track in Louisville, Kentucky on Thursday, May 1. The media event will introduce the artist 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. A clay model of the sculpture will be present. Additionally, the Jacksons and Museum officials will announce a national student art exhibition related to Barbaro’s memorial, to will be hosted by the 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.

Two days later, the 134th Kentucky Derby will be run at the track.

NOTE: The track would like to state that the news conference is for Churchill Downs credentialed media members ONLY and is not open to the general public.

(this post is edited from a press release)