Keeneland, a horse racing and auction company, has pledged $100,000 over the next four years to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which conducts research on equine safety and welfare, with some funds supporting a study comparing PET and MRI scans for assessing fetlock injuries in sport horses.
‣ Keeneland is pledging $100,000 over the next four years to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, demonstrating its commitment to equine safety and welfare research.
‣ Some of the funds will support a study comparing positron emission tomography (PET) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing fetlock injuries in sport horses, which is seen as a tangible topic in the Thoroughbred industry today.
‣ Keeneland has a history of supporting Grayson’s research initiatives and has hosted its Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, aiming to improve the safety and soundness of racehorses.
Keeneland is stepping up its game in equine safety and welfare research. Over the next four years, it’s pledging a whopping $100,000 to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
Shannon Arvin, the big boss at Keeneland, is all about the horses. “The best interest of the horse is the beginning and end of all we do at Keeneland,” she says. Keeneland has always been a big supporter of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
This foundation is a big deal in equine safety, integrity, and research. One thing that’s got them buzzing is Grayson’s study of advancing technology and veterinary science. These are key in keeping our equine athletes safe.
Some of that sweet cash will go to a study comparing PET to MRI for checking out fetlock injuries in sport horses. The lucky guy getting the one-year grant for this project is Dr. Mathieu Spriet from the University of California, Davis.
Back in 2015, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation funded the first project using PET scans on equine athletes. They threw in more money in 2019. By the end of 2023, at least 10 PET scans will have been installed in North America.
Dr. Stuart Brown, Keeneland’s VP of equine safety, thinks the PET project is a hot topic. “Investment in understanding the benefits of this new imaging modality and its application in the diagnosis and prevention of bone injury in our equine athletes is a big deal,” he says.
Dell Hancock, the chair of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, is grateful for Keeneland’s support. “I challenge other racing associations to show their commitment to the safety of our equine athletes by incorporating funds for Grayson into future business expenses,” he says.
Keeneland has been a long-time partner in supporting Grayson’s research initiatives. It has even hosted its Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit. This event brings together the breeding, racing, and veterinary communities to improve the safety and soundness of racehorses.
Want more info on the PET project and other current research funded by Grayson? Check it out here: bit.ly/graysoncurrent.
