McCarron Narrates Video for Equine Research

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation today released a new video narrated by retired Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. The five-minute video will be made available to race tracks and other interested horse organizations.

McCarron, who retired last summer after winning more than 7,000 races, notes in the script that "when you are up on horses at high speeds for more than 26,000 miles (of races), nothing is more important than the health and physical soundness of those animals. That''s why I am so enthusiastic about asking your support of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation."

"We certainly appreciate Chris's willingness to volunteer his time and talents," said Foundation president Edward L. Bowen. "As anyone who has seen Chris on television realizes, he is very articulate and good on camera, and it certainly is a boost for our visibility that he was willing to help us."

McCarron taped the video while in Lexington, Ky., as a key participant in the filming of the upcoming movie on Seabiscuit.

The video briefly reviews the 62-year history of the Foundation, which in the last two decades alone has contributed some $10 million to fund nearly 200 projects at more than 30 universities.

McCarron reviews some of the past achievements of research funded by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, such as work on virus abortion and equine viral arteritis vaccines, and improved treatment of injuries, as well as more recent efforts toward dealing with Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis and the current Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome. He also points out that veterinary medicine has kept pace with such recent developments in human medicine as DNA vaccination techniques and use of adult stem cells for health enhancements.

Any individual or organization concerned with the health and safety of horses may become a member of the Foundation for an annual fee of a minimum of $100.

Membership information is available from Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, 821 Corporate Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. Phone: (859) 224-2850. E-mail: ebowen@jockeyclub.com. Donations may be mailed to the same address.