Four esteemed faculty members within the University of Kentucky’s Department of Veterinary Science will soon hang up their lab coats in retirement over the next few months, closing chapters in each of their professional lives that have been marked by indelible research and service impacts to the equine industry.

At UK’s Spindletop Hall in Lexington, Kentucky, Nov. 2, an audience of veterinarians, equine health professionals, fellow academicians and friends gathered to honor Barry Ball, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, Albert G Clay Endowed Chair in Equine Reproduction at the Gluck Equine Research Center; Craig Carter, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM, director of the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; David Horohov, PhD, chair of the Department of Veterinary Science at UK, director of the Gluck Center and Jes E. and Clementine M. Schlaikjer Endowed Chair; and Peter Timoney, MVB, PhD, FRCVS, Frederick Van Lennep Chair in Equine Veterinary Science at the Gluck Center.

They have served UK and the international equine industry for a collective 84 years, time marked by vast scientific advancement on some of the most pressing issues facing the industry.

“Equine is a special part of UK. The university has been conducting research to protect the health and well-being of the horse since the early 1900s when the Department of Veterinary Science was established. In 1985, a significant investment was made to further equine research by establishing the Gluck Equine Research Center. The Gluck Center is one of three facilities in the word exclusively dedicated to equine research. Located in the Horse Capital of the World, and arguably the horse health capital of the world, the research capabilities at the Gluck Center are unparalleled,” said Vice President for Land-Grant Engagement and Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment during the ceremony. “While the facilities have continued to grow, it is our people that truly make this place a world-renowned epicenter for equine health and research. Our heartfelt appreciation and best wishes go to each of our retirees who have contributed so much to the equine and veterinary science community.”

“Drs. Ball, Carter, Horohov and Timoney have given tremendously to the department and to the equine and livestock industries that we serve. Without question, replacing the expertise of these four eminent faculty members will be a major challenge for the Department of Veterinary Science over the next several years,” said Daniel Howe, PhD, incoming interim chair of the Department of Veterinary Science and interim director of the Gluck Center. “It has been a privilege to work with and learn from each of them, and I wish them the best in their well-deserved retirement.”

“A true testament to the iconic footprint of the Gluck Equine Research Center as an international resource into our insight and understanding of the health of the horse rests with the quality of its esteemed faculty. This group of retirees leaves an indelible mark on the landscape of equine research, and we thank them for all they have done on behalf of the horse,” said Stuart Brown, DVM, Keeneland’s vice president of equine safety and current chair of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation Board.

“We were fortunate to get to celebrate the careers and achievements of four of these individuals who have dedicated themselves to furthering our mission at the Gluck Center through their scientific discoveries that have resulted in the improvement of equine health. These accomplishments were made possible through the visionary leadership of those who have helped to lead this great institution in the past, such as Dr. Peter Timoney,  and we have been fortunate over the past six years benefiting from the sage leadership of Dr. David Horohov, who retires as the Chairman of Veterinary Science and Director of the Gluck Center at the end of this year. His guidance of the program, especially in light of challenges experienced in the past two years of the pandemic, have been truly remarkable in sustaining this mission and preparing the Gluck Center to prosper in the years to follow in sustaining the reputation of this vital resource for the equine industry,” Brown said.

During the retirement ceremony, prominent members of the equine health community talked about the impact of each of the retiring faculty members and led a toast in their honor.

Tom Riddle, DVM, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital spoke about Ball’s impact on equine reproduction research, citing his work on nocardioform placentitis as a recent example of the impact he has had on the industry.

Bob Stout, DVM, retired Kentucky State Veterinarian, toasted Carter and shared the important work in disease surveillance that the UK VDL provides to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its livestock industries.

Brown thanked Horohov for his service to Kentucky’s equine industry, his leadership of the Gluck Center over the past seven years and highlighted the Gluck Center’s recent work with a novel Rotavirus B strain discovered in Central Kentucky during the spring of 2021.

Finally, Chauncey Morris, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’, shared remembrances of his time traveling with Timoney, who he called a rock star in other countries, known as THE guy who was the equine infectious disease expert. He also drew laughter from the audience by ribbing the Irish-born Timoney for eschewing casual or even business casual attire in favor for his daily suit and tie.

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