The Stronach Group has invested $500,000 to support the purchase of the Longmile Positron Emission Tomography (MILE-PET) Scan machine that provides imaging of the fetlock joint while a Thoroughbred is standing, the organization reported in a release Wednesday.
“The Stronach Group's funding of this ground-breaking technology represents an important investment that will aid in the detection of equine injuries on a microscopic level to flag pre-existing conditions that can contribute to breakdowns,” said Dr. Dionne Benson, recently appointed Chief Veterinary Officer for The Stronach Group. “This technology will help to identify the injuries that tend to be the most dangerous and are not detectable using the current technology.”
The Stronach Group has partnered with the Dolly Green Research Foundation (DRGF) to secure the purchase of the MILE-PET Scan machine. DGRF, founded in 1984 by Green, a longtime horse owner with a special interest in equine research, is affiliated with the Southern California Equine Foundation.
The newly donated MILE-PET system will first be sent to the Center of Equine Health at the University of California–Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine for validation, research and continued analysis. After completion of the validation period at UC Davis, the MILE-PET will be available for use at Santa Anita this fall.
“The Stronach Group is committed to providing horse owners and trainers with access to state-of-the-art technology that will make a significant difference to the health and safety of our horses and riders,” said Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President of TSC. “Our goal is to make every resource available to aid horsemen in determining the fitness of their horses for racing and training. We're excited to be partnering with the Dolly Green Research Foundation and UC Davis to bring the MILE-PET to the equine hospital, located right here at Santa Anita.”
Dr. Rick Arthur, Equine Medical Director for the California Horse Racing Board, added, “You cannot overstate how significant an advancement this is in equine diagnostic imaging and it is a natural fit here in California. PET is an advanced nuclear imaging technique and Santa Anita is already the home of the Dolly Green Nuclear Scintigraphy facility, which was the first of its kind when it was installed. We thank everyone involved for making this investment to further the safety of our equine athletes.”
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