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A DAY AT THE RACES
13
EQUINE MATTERS
Horse with Sweet Itch
Veterinary Surgeon
Lesley Barwise-Munro
XLVets Practice
Alnorthumbria Veterinary
Group
Lesley Barwise-Munro BSc BVM&S Cert EP MRCVS
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group
...The Vet’s Role
Behind the scenes
at the
Races...
There are two categories of
veterinary surgeons that attend
all the racecourses in the UK:
Firstly
one referred to as the Regulatory Vet
who is employed by the British Horse Racing
Association (BHA) and is responsible for
ensuring that all horses are ridden within the
rules of racing and these vets carry out random
testing of horses for any substances that may
affect their performance (dope testing).They
also check the identity of each horse by
reading the microchip implanted in its neck.
The second
category is Racecourse Vet who,
as suggested by the name is employed by the
racecourse itself. The racecourse vet has to
be an experienced equine vet and to have
attended the appropriate casualty management
training. The racecourse vet attends and treats
any horse present at the racecourse who
sustains an injury either on or off the race track
or occasionally during transit to the racecourse.
The vets are part of a larger team of people
all working together to make the day a
success. Both categories of veterinary surgeons
are there to look after the wellbeing of the
horses at the racecourse and to ensure the
best standards of care and welfare are in
place for these animals.
So what does the Vet’s day
at the races entail?
The appointed senior racecourse vet is
responsible for ensuring that two vets are
present at each race meeting on the flat and
three vets for each National Hunt meeting over
hurdles and fences. In addition one BHA vet
attends every meeting.