A) The Barbaro Memorial for the Right to Die, Daniel Edwards. Life Size Resin Cast

Leo Kesting Gallery Presents:
Daniel Edwards: The Barbaro Memorial for the Right to Die
812 Washington St New York NY 10014 at the corner of Ganesvoort St
8th Ave 14th st A,C, E and L train Stop
Open Tuesday to Thursday 11:00 until 7:00 pm and Friday - Saturday 11:00 - 9:00 pm
Admission is free to the public phone : 917-650-3760 http://www.leokesting.com

For Immediate Release:
BARBARO REMEMBERED WITH STATUE IN CENTRAL PARK
Plea For Disclosure of Race Fatalities Sympathetic to NYC Carriage Horses

New York (January 23, 2008) – Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, is the subject of a statue and namesake of a proposal urging mandatory disclosure of race-related horse fatalities and injuries. A proposal titled “Barbaro’s Law” will coincide with the unveiling of Barbaro’s statue at the Central Park South location where a carriage horse was tragically killed last year. “The Barbaro Memorial” by controversial sculptor Daniel Edwards, courtesy of Leo Kesting Gallery will be unveiled in September on the anniversary of Smoothie's death.”The Barbaro Memorial” depicts the thoroughbred champion in the winner’s circle on his back with his number 8 saddle cloth draping his belly, and represents his inability to stand on his feet due to the debilitating laminitis which followed the shattered ankle he suffered in the 2006 Preakness Stakes. Barbaro was put down for his injuries January 29th of last year.

Barbaro’s Law

The Memorial’s website, www.BarbarosLaw.com, provides an online petition urging Congress to pass a law that would arm consumers with the truth about the perils of horseracing by requiring racetracks to disclose race-related injury and fatality statistics. “Informed race patrons may choose to avoid contributing to the breakdown and destruction of racehorses by not buying a ticket or placing a bet,” said gallery co-director, David Kesting.Estimates are that 700-800 horses are killed on racecourses annually in the US and Canada with an additional 375 racehorse deaths in the UK.

Killed NYC Carriage Horse “Smoothie” Also Memorialized

“We feel “Barbaro’s Law” is sympathetic to prior efforts in horse protection legislation,” said gallery co-director, John Leo. Queens Councilman Tony Avella drafted legislation that would ban New York’s horse-drawn carriages after carriage horse, Smoothie, died from running into a tree after being spooked by a street musician’s drum last September.”Tourists might decide to pass on a carriage ride after knowing the plight of the carriage horse,” added Leo, who said the gallery will also exhibit a memorial statue of the fallen NYC carriage horse by Daniel Edwards at their gallery in Manhattan’s meatpacking district.

Barbaro A ‘Champion’ For Right to Die

Barbaro, the euthanized champion racehorse, is an emblem for the Right To Die and Death With Dignity movements in the monument scheduled for the Central Park unveiling in April. “The Barbaro Memorial for the Right to Die” by controversial sculptor Daniel Edwards is a tribute to the late Triple Crown contender and is dedicated to the institution of euthanasia, says Leo Kesting Gallery.Barbaro was euthanized after every option for saving him was explored, well into a painful existence. “A suffering horse cannot call Dr. Kevorkian for an assisted suicide, because like Terry Schiavo, the ailing horse cannot speak for itself,” said gallery co-director, David Kesting. It was reported that in the end, Barbaro was biting at people before he was finally allowed to die with dignity.”We believe a memorial dedicated to the Right to Die will encourage horse owners to forego their own self-interests and act mercifully on behalf of their suffering horse,” said gallery co-director, John Leo. “If Barbaro has taught us anything, it is that horses deserve our compassion first.” Barbaro, winner of the Kentucky Derby by the largest margin of victory since 1946, was considered a shoe-in for The Triple Crown and the English Derby, fuelling speculation his life was prolonged for the earning of stud fees. Daniel Edwards’s previous bronze of a thoroughbred champ titled “The Last Triple Crown Winner,” is expected to be rededicated in Louisville, Kentucky this year in observance of the thirtieth anniversary of “Affirmed’s” achievement.

Edwards’s past sculptures include a nude Britney Spears giving birth on a bearskin rug, an interactive autopsy of Paris Hilton with removable organs, and a war dead Prince Harry clutching the cameo locket of his late mother Princess Diana.