Two equine veterinarians will be serving the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ On Call program during the NBC Sports telecast of the Nov. 1–2 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Scott Palmer, VMD, Diplomate ABVP, and Alan Ruggles, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, will be at Santa Anita as AAEP On Call spokespersons to provide timely health updates to the media and viewing audience regarding the athletes in each race.

Dr. Palmer served as staff surgeon and hospital director of the New Jersey Equine Clinic for 38 years prior to accepting an appointment as the equine medical director for the New York State Gaming Commission in January 2014. He concurrently serves as an adjunct professor in the department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Ruggles has a clinical practice in equine surgery at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., where he has practiced since 1999. He is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and specializes in equine orthopedic surgery and lameness.

In addition, Jeff Blea, DVM, a member of the On Call program and a private practitioner in Southern California for the past 25 years, will serve as a communication liaison for horse health information.

The On Call program, which started in 1991, serves over 30 televised equine events annually. Nearly 20 media-trained AAEP-member veterinarians share their veterinary expertise as On Call spokespersons. For more information or to schedule an interview with an On Call spokesperson, contact Sally Baker, AAEP director of marketing and public relations, at (859) 552-5615.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its nearly 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.

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