Does Churchill Downs have a veterinary staff?

Question

I am currently a student of Veterinary Technology and will be graduating in about a year. I live in Louisville, KY. I am very interested in working with race horses. If I wanted to get some experience, should I look at the track or should I look to individual barns?

Answer 1

Churchhill Downs like any other track as will have several veterinarians and a state Veterinarian.  The state veterinarian works for the state racing commission.  They are responsible for doing pre-race vet checks, working the races (a doing on the track race care (if a horse is injured on the track they are the ones that put the horse down, etc,), they also oversee the test barn and its staff.   The veterinarians that work on track work for the trainers they just have to be able to get a track license.  The track usually have 3-4 different veterinarians who take care of the vet needs of the trainers.  It is up to the trainer which on track vet they use.  If you want to get some experience I would contact your local track and find out who the veterinarians are and then contact those veterinarians about a job as an assistant. Hope I've helped and good luck.