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Can The Horseracing Integrity And Safety Act Entice More Vets To Regulatory Work?

The veterinary shortage in the United States has reached an almost critical juncture, but those behind the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act believe they may be able to entice more vets to regulatory work with the promise of a work-life balance.

As an increased veterinary presence at tracks in California is required, the lack of veterinarians in the state – and throughout the United States – is becoming more apparent, reports Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

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There are multiple reasons why fewer students are studying veterinary medicine and even fewer are interested in pursuing large animal practice, including debt, stress, mental health concerns, and work-life balance. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which is slated to launch in July of 2022, is hoping to entice more vets into the regulatory side of veterinary medicine.

In racing, veterinarians typically fall into two camps: vets employed by racetracks and vets employed by state racing commissions. In California, the veterinarian's scope of duties now extends well beyond that of a pre-race examiner: vets in the state now are asked to monitor training, help with entry review panels and sit on necropsy review programs.

Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for The Stronach Group (TSG), has a unique proposal to attract vets into regulatory work: The creation of a fellowship program aimed at vet school graduates who have completed an internship, but who would like to do something more before entering into full-time practice.

Benson suggests the fellowship be a two-year program split between academic studies and practical experiences, with the student graduating from the program with a master's degree in regulatory or sports medicine.

Proponents are hopeful the job of a regulatory vet may soon be streamlined through HISA's creation of a nationwide veterinarian database, which could better allow regulatory veterinarians to communicate about required tasks and prevent the role from being too overwhelming. Another potentially large draw for regulatory vet work is the standardized hours.

Read more at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

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Longtime Oaklawn Veterinarian Dr. Lee Cyphers Passes Away

Dr. Lee Cyphers, Oaklawn's longtime Association Veterinarian, passed away Sunday, Sept. 5 following complications from a brain aneurysm. He was a fixture at the Oaklawn starting gate and in the paddock spanning three decades. He was a local Hot Springs veterinarian with a highly successful small animal clinic. However, his training was focused on large animals and his passion was horses.

From Oaklawn President Louis A. Cella:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cyphers family. Dr. Cyphers had been a dedicated member of the Oaklawn team, serving as our Association Veterinarian for over 30 years. He hardly missed a day of races and was at the gate ensuring the safety of our equine athletes more than 15,000 times during his tenure, rain or shine. No matter if the horse was a claimer or a champion like Zenyatta or American Pharoah, Dr. Cyphers gave them the utmost care to ensure they were ready to perform at their best.”

From Arkansas H.B.P.A. President Bill Walmsley:

“Dr. Cyphers was a trusted friend to the horsemen and a very good veterinarian. His top priority was always the safety and well-being of the horses. He will be missed by everyone.”

From Arkansas Racing Commission Chairman Alex Lieblong:

“Dr. Cyphers was liked and respected by everyone. His long tenure at Oaklawn speaks volumes to his dedication and passion for racing and his desire to protect the well-being of every horse. He was always willing to work cooperatively with the state veterinarians, which the Commission always appreciated. He'll be missed.”

Official Obituary:

Louis Lee Cyphers, 66, of Hot Springs passed away on September 5, 2021 with his wife and children at his bedside following a ruptured brain aneurysm on August 3. He was born on August 22, 1955 in El Dorado, AR to the late Peggy and CD Cyphers.

His many accomplishments began with graduating from El Dorado High School in 1973. He then went on to attend Hendrix College finishing with a bachelor's degree in Biology in 1977. Before deciding to attend veterinarian school, he took a few years off to farm tomatoes and soy beans with his dear brother Andy. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. He and his first wife Viki (a fellow classmate) married after graduation and moved to Hot Springs. They opened Cyphers Veterinary Hospital together in 1987 at 111 Temperance Hill Road, which they owned and operated until selling the practice in 2011 (now known as Temperance Hill Animal Hospital). Shortly after moving to Hot Springs, Lee began his long tenure with Oaklawn serving as the track veterinarian from 1990 until he died. He loved this job and all of the friends he made there, the best of which was his wife Kristi. They shared a wonderful life together for over 20 years.

Lee enjoyed all things outdoors, especially camping and bass fishing on Lake DeGray with his family and friends. Lee and Kristi loved camping at Lake DeGray so much that they would regularly stay the maximum allowed 2 weeks per month. He loved to fry fish and deer steak for his crowd and was always the life of any party.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Steve and Chuck Cyphers.

Survivors include his wife and best friend Kristi; children, Morgan Lee (Summer) Cyphers, Margaret “Meggy” Beatrice (Joseph) Boone, the mother of his children, Viki Cyphers, and Scotty (Grace) Casteel; grandchildren, Noah and Emmie Casteel; siblings, Kay (Andy) Cyphers Garison, Andy Cyphers, and Dan (Amy) Cyphers, DDS, and extended family and many friends.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

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Oaklawn’s Dr. Lee Cyphers Passes Away

Dr. Lee Cyphers, Oaklawn's longtime Association Veterinarian, passed away at age 66 Sunday, Sept. 5 following complications from a brain aneurysm. He was a fixture at the Oaklawn starting gate and in the paddock spanning three decades. He was a local Hot Springs veterinarian with a highly successful small animal clinic.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Steve and Chuck Cyphers.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cyphers family. Dr. Cyphers had been a dedicated member of the Oaklawn team, serving as our Association Veterinarian for over 30 years,” Oaklawn President Louis A. Cella. “He hardly missed a day of races and was at the gate ensuring the safety of our equine athletes more than 15,000 times during his tenure, rain or shine. No matter if the horse was a claimer or a champion like Zenyatta or American Pharoah, Dr. Cyphers gave them the utmost care to ensure they were ready to perform at their best.”

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Ferraro Earns Laffit Pincay Jr. Award

Dr. Gregory Ferraro, the current chairman of the California Horse Racing Board and an equine surgeon and a medical executive, has been named the 17th recipient of the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award. The 75-year-old will be honored at Del Mar with a ceremony during this Saturday's TVG Pacific Classic Day program. The Pincay Award, named for and presented by the Hall of Fame rider, goes to those who have served the sport “with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and distinction.”

“I can think of few people who fit the requirements for this award better than Dr. Ferraro,” said Pincay. “He has been a champion for horses and horse people throughout his life and his mark on our game will go on and on. He most certainly deserves this award and it will be my honor to salute him with it.”

Ferraro, a native of San Francisco and a graduate of University of California, Davis and UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, was a working veterinarian and surgeon on the tracks of Southern California for 27 years. Subsequently, he accepted the position of Director of the Center for Equine Health at UC Davis where for 17 years he led efforts to promote research and education in equine medicine to the advantage and health of all breeds of horses. Ferraro, who designed and developed the horse ambulances that are used on North American tracks, also was among those who developed a splint that can be applied to stabilize lower leg injuries in horses. Also, he was among the first to adapt human arthroscopic surgical techniques to horses. He also co-founded the Southern California Equine Foundation that helped established equine hospitals on the backstretches of Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park, the latter of which continues to provide diagnostic, surgical and medical services to injured horses.

Also included among his distinctions, Ferraro lent his expertise to many industry organizations and boards and has held numerous leadership positions including the Racing Board Medication Committee, the Southern California Equine Foundation, the International Animal Welfare Training Institute and the Dolly Green Research Foundation. He is currently a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

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