Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation today announced that Keeneland Association has pledged $100,000 over the next four years as part of its continued commitment to support Grayson’s vital equine safety and welfare research.

“The best interest of the horse is the beginning and end of all we do at Keeneland,” said Shannon Arvin, president and CEO of Keeneland. “In furtherance of our mission, Keeneland has long championed the important work of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which is a leader in equine safety, integrity, and research. Especially exciting is Grayson’s study of advancing technology and veterinary science and their roles in keeping our equine athletes safe.” 

One project the funds will support is focused on comparing positron emission tomography (PET) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of fetlock injuries in sport horses. The project is a one-year grant to Dr. Mathieu Spriet, University of California - Davis.

The use of PET scans and MRIs has been a focus in the Thoroughbred industry for several years. In 2015, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation funded the first research project that performed PET scans on equine athletes, followed by additional research funding in 2019. This cutting-edge research assists veterinarians in identifying difficult to locate lameness. At least 10 of these PET scans will be installed throughout North America by the end of 2023.

“Although the PET project is geared toward sport horses, we think it resonates with a tangible topic being discussed in the Thoroughbred industry today,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, Keeneland’s vice president of equine safety. “Investment in furthering our understanding of the benefits of this new imaging modality and its application in the diagnosis and prevention of bone injury in our equine athletes remains an intense area of interest for interventional opportunities on behalf of the horse.”   

“I can’t thank Keeneland enough for its support of Grayson’s invaluable research that helps so many of our horses,” said Dell Hancock, chair, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “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.”

Keeneland is a long-standing partner in support and funding of Grayson’s research initiatives and has hosted its Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, which brings together breeding, racing, and veterinary communities to improve safety and soundness of racehorses.

More information on the PET project and other current research being funded by Grayson can be found here: bit.ly/graysoncurrent.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation’s leading source of private funding for equine medical research. The projects it supports enhance the health and safety of horses of all breeds. Since 1940, the foundation has provided more than $40 million to fund more than 426 projects at 45 universities in North America and overseas. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson.jockeyclub.org.