Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

Longtime owner and breeder Helen Groves passed away last Friday at her home in San Antonio, Texas. She was 94. Groves's love of horses began while she was growing up on the historic King Ranch founded by her great-grandfather, Captain Richard King. A skilled rider, she raised and campaigned many champion cutting horses. Known as the "First Lady of Cutting," Groves was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1998. She also owned Grand Prix jumpers ridden by Olympian Michael Matz. Groves's passion for breeding and racing on her...

Edited Press Release Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced today that Dell Hancock, chairman of the foundation, has been named the fifth recipient of the Dinny Phipps Award. She will be presented with the award at the Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration, which will be held Thursday, June 9. Earle Mack, an active participant in Thoroughbred racing and breeding for more than five decades, created the award in 2017 in memory of Phipps to honor an individual or individuals who have demonstrated dedication to equine health. Previous winners of the Dinny Phipps...

The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced Tuesday that it has authorized expenditure of $1,661,180 to fund 15 new projects and 10 continuing projects at 16 universities as well as three career development awards. The 2022 slate of research brings Grayson's totals since 1983 to more than $32.1 million to underwrite 412 projects at 45 universities. "Grayson aims to support projects that address a wide range of equine health issues, and this diversity can be seen in our approved projects this year," said Jamie Haydon, president of...

The 10th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit will take place June 22, 2022, in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced Feb. 28. The previous summit, held in June 2020, was a virtual webinar due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The event will be free and open to the public as well as being streamed online. The agenda will include a review of the Thoroughbred industry's implementation of safety recommendations developed at the first summit in 2006 as well as a presentation by Dr. Tim Parkin...

Edited press release Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has issued a formal call for research applications focused on the development of a nucleic acid-based vaccine against equine herpes virus (EHV). Dr. John Ballantyne and Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation have committed $2 million to fund this research. "We are so grateful to Dr. Ballantyne for his generosity in supporting efforts to address EHV, a disease that affects all horses," said Dell Hancock, chair of the foundation. "This gift will enable Grayson to continue its commitment to funding critical research for horses, and our...

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the nation's leading source of private funding for equine medical research, has created an endowment to support the "A. Gary Lavin Chair." The full-time position, created in recognition of the late Dr. Gary Lavin's contributions to the foundation and to equine health, will include research advisory committee (RAC) member recruitment, orientation, and management; management of grant applications, reviews, deadlines, and conflict eliminations; fundraising; and publicity. "Dr. Lavin made innumerable contributions to Grayson over the last 40 years, including time spent as a valued member of...

Edited Release The first several months of the year make up the bulk of the busy foaling season in Central Kentucky, so when the region's farms and equine practitioners began noticing increases of diarrhea in foals ages two to seven days old, there was concern. In response, the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center is using a portion of its existing Koller Emergency Funds, and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Foundation, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and Coolmore America are leading an effort to help provide additional funding, allowing...

Dr. Gary Lavin, one of the Thoroughbred industry's most respected and accomplished veterinarians, passed away Saturday morning at his home in Louisville, Kentucky after a long battle with cancer, according to his family. He was 83 years old. Lavin is a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Steward of The Jockey Club, trustee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the Breeders' Cup, director at Keeneland, and vice-chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Lavin was a 1962 graduate of the University...

For the seventh consecutive year, the board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has allocated over $1 million in funding for equine research. A total of $1,638,434 in 2021 will fund 12 new projects at 12 universities, 12 continuing projects, and two career development awards worth $20,000 each. The amount represents the most the foundation has ever allocated in a year and brings the foundation's totals since 1983 to more than $30.6 million. These funds have underwritten 396 projects at 45 universities. The foundation is the nation's leading source...

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation will host its second online photo contest for horse lovers to draw attention to their equine companions. The contest opened Feb. 1 and entries will be accepted through Feb. 28. Participants are encouraged to submit photos of horses representing all breeds, backgrounds and disciplines via this link. The finalists will be selected by a team from Grayson and the winner will be chosen by votes from the public at Grayson's Facebook page. A Grayson 'swag bag' will be awarded to the winner and each finalist...

Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation will partner with Little Red Feather Racing and Equibase to sponsor the 'Gamble For Grayson Handicapping Challenge.' The contest will take place Nov. 28 and 29 and will span five graded stakes races to be held that weekend at Del Mar. Representatives of Little Red Feather and Equibase will begin with $500 bankrolls, $100 must be wagered on each race on straight win-place-show bets, exactas, trifectas or superfectas. At the end of the contest, all remaining bankroll and winnings will be donated to Grayson. The team representing...

Officials at Kentucky Downs have announced that the track will be promoting support of the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation during its upcoming meet by enabling owners to donate a percentage of prize money or a flat fee per starter to the organization. Owners can direct the horsemen's bookkeeper to allocate funds from their accounts to Grayson through InCompass Solutions' Track Manager system, and paper forms will be available for owners to fill out in the racing office. Kentucky Downs is kicking off donations with a lead gift of $2,500. "Our sponsorship...