Today the New York State Gaming Commission and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine today announced the appointment of Scott E. Palmer, VMD as the state’s Equine Medical Director. The appointment followed an international search and today’s announcement was made in a lengthy press release, from which information in this article was extracted.

Dr. Palmer, a renowned veterinarian from New Jersey, will oversee the health and safety of horses at all New York State Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks in his new post. He was selected from an international pool of finalists by a blue-ribbon search committee of veterinarians and horse industry professionals.

Dr. Palmer will be responsible for all aspects of equine health, safety, and welfare at New York racetracks and will advise the Commission on equine medication policies as well as the safety and condition of racetrack facilities and surfaces. He will supervise all on-track regulatory veterinarians as well as the New York State Equine Drug Testing Program laboratory. He will oversee equine testing procedures, ensure compliance with regulatory veterinary protocols, investigate incidents and monitor the Commission’s necropsy program.

As New York’s Equine Medical Director, Dr. Palmer will also serve as an Adjunct Professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he will be responsible for developing and coordinating continuing education programs for veterinarians and trainers related to medication and equine injuries. He will coordinate research on equine sports medicine topics and collaborate with faculty on epidemiological studies to analyze equine safety issues.

Dr. Palmer said, “I am honored to join the Commission and to help bolster New York’s ongoing commitment to equine health and safety. Having a sole veterinary point of contact overseeing all New York race horses and having access to Cornell’s array of resources is simply smart policy. I am eager to get to work, and I look forward to working with our partners to create as safe an environment as possible for our horses.”

About Dr. Palmer
Since his graduation from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine in 1976, Dr. Palmer has worked as a staff clinician at the New Jersey Equine Clinic, serving as the Hospital Director since 1997. He is a two-time recipient of the New Jersey Equine Practitioners Veterinarian of the Year award, as well as a recipient of the AAEP President’s Award in 2009 and the AAEP Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

Dr. Palmer is board certified in equine practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. He has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications and is a featured speaker at veterinary conferences world-wide. He is a member of several professional organizations and has held leadership positions in many, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, and the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners.

Dr. Palmer chaired the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety, which was formed at the request of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2012 in the wake of 21 equine fatalities during Aqueduct’s 2011-12 Winter Meet. The New York State Equine Medical Director position was established last year as a key recommendation of that Task Force.

Dr. Palmer serves as a Board Member for the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Advisory Board and the Thoroughbred Charities of America. He previously served on the ARCI Special Task Force on Medication and chaired the International Summit on Race Day Medication as well as the Ad-Hoc RMTC Committee on Race Day Security and served two terms as member of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Advisory Committee.

Lawrence R. Bramlage, DVM, partner and equine orthopedic surgeon at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital located in Lexington, Ky., said, “(Dr. Palmer) will be a real champion for New York’s racehorses. His record as a racing advocate and in equine practice speaks for itself and I congratulate him on his new position, as well as New York State for bringing him on board.”

The New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety’s full recommendations can be found online.

About the New York State Gaming Commission
The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at racetracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.

About the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is recognized internationally as a leader in public health, biomedical research, animal medicine, and veterinary medical education and consistently ranked the top veterinary college in the nation. Through its research, education, and outreach programs, such as the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell is committed to advancing equine health and sports medicine.