Endorsements

The critical need for research and the work of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation are widely appreciated by members of the equine industry. Following is a small sampling.

Researchers' Comments

"This study has opened up a new line of reasoning as to the cause of orthopaedic injuries in the joints of horses."

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"Our research group was the first to prove that DNA vaccination could work in horses, using influenza virus (now commercially available for West Nile virus). In Equine Herpesvirus-1 research we were the first to identify a part of the virus is targeted by cellular immunity, the most important type of immunity and a key vaccine target."

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"The impact (of our Grayson project) has been ongoing improvement in . . . treating fractures using transfixation pin casting. These improvements have been adopted by the most prominent pin manufacturer in the veterinary market and are currently available for use in horses."

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"It is an amazingly persistent fallacy that universities have abundant "internal" funding. There simply is no such thing. A few universities have some consistent internal sources for equine research . . . but competitive government funding and foundation funding sources still remain the major means of getting any equine research done. Government funding for equine research has historically been pitifully low and probably will remain so. . . Furthermore, the horse is an EXTREMELY expensive research animal. You can do research on hundreds of mice for the price of what it costs to obtain and maintain a single horse. Science is built on statistics, and numbers of animals in research counts for a lot. The Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation is one of the very few agencies that critically evaluates the essence of a research project looking for qualities that will specifically benefit the equine species. "

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"Grayson funding helped us to start molecular research in our laboratory. We reported the Neurokinin antagonists are a new class of analgesics and are useful in dealing with recurrent airway obstruction in horses."

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"There is so little funding for equine research that each grant awarded has enormous impact. I don't know whether even the Foundation board realizes that these grants sustain our research programs. . . The ripple effects from each individual research project are enormous."

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"The combination of drugs we evaluated are commonly used for severe pain in horses. The work has provided valuable information regarding the systemic effects associated with these drugs. . . . This work was a huge component of the research training for a former resident, Johanna Elfenbein, who is now pursuing an NIH-funded PhD at Texas A & M."

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"The expense of horse work dictates that we assemble financial support from several agencies. Being able to point to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation support enables us to show other agencies (notably the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affair and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) that our work is peer-reviewed and accepted elsewhere. In addition, OMAFRA (above) provides us with horses and facilities at highly subsidized rates for GJCRF-supported research."

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"The work (from the grant) is being performed on clinical cases of horses with bone diseases . . . The grant served as the basis for a PhD degree by a veterinarian who is still a major contributor to the study of equine diseases and health."

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"The Rhodococcus equine genome project was supported by the GJCRF in partnership with the Horseracing Levy Board, Irish Equine Centre, etc., . . .and was successfully completed and its objectives fully achieved. The genome sequence was made available to the international scientific community and since then is being widely used by many researchers in the field worldwide."

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"Our laboratory has been focused on acceleration of fracture healing and the healing of large bone defects. The CJCRF research grant assisted in understanding BMP technology in the horse . . . Many now understand the potential benefits of rhBMP-2. . . . The GJCRF grant program is the leader in providing resources to try to minimize the prevalence of injury on the race track and to enhance our treatment of injuries that happen to occur during racing and training."

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"Funding of EIPH research has had a major positive impact on my career. The GJCRF fund is the major source of research money in the U. S., and validation of the quality of our work through funding of research grants has been important."

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"In the past, the pathophysiology of age-related subfertility in stallions was poorly understood. We have greatly expanded our understanding of the disease in the horse, and this has allowed us to move from 'shot-gun,' non-specific (and ineffective) treatments towards a plan to develop treatment approaches based on a true knowledge of the disease process."

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Industry Leaders' Comments

"I believe that all horses, whether champions or not, deserve the best possible care. An organization that shares my belief is the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. The purpose of this Foundation is to fund veterinary research to improve the health and soundness of horses of all kinds. I encourage you to make a donation or become a Foundation member simply by paying modest annual dues."

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"All trainers are reminded everyday of what can go wrong with horses, but we also now have a lot of tools that have come from veterinary research. Grayson-Jockey Club has been a key in putting those tools into our hands."

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". . . Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is there to help all horses and horse owners and it welcomes everybody with a love for these noble friends of ours. You don't have to be nominated or elected. You can send in your dues check and immediately become a full-fledged member of the Grayson-Jockey Club."

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"One reason I got involved with Grayson-Jockey Club is that whatever is done will benefit all equines, no matter whether they are Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians, Paints, Palominos, whatever."

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"The many improvements in surgical techniques and disease control have relied on dedicated, creative individuals. They also required research. That's why any horse stands to benefit tomorrow from contributions made to Grayson-Jockey Club today."

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"My parents' great filly Ruffian focused a great deal of attention on the importance of veterinary care. I am pleased that so much progress has been made since then in dealing with unexpected injuries. Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has played a role in making that progress possible."

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"At the highest levels of international competition, or the most relaxed family ride, the health and soundness of your horse is paramount. Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has a long history as the horseman's ally in avoiding and overcoming problems."

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"Research funded by this Foundation has already led to many important improvements in health and safety of the horse. Support for the Foundation means future benefits for all horses."

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"St. Francis called animals 'our little brothers.' The Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation provides the opportunity to practice our 'dominion' and improve the well-being of the animal whose service and companionship to mankind is truly immeasurable."

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