Bernd Driessen, Dr. Med Vet recently returned from a trip to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, PA was invited to be part of the veterinary staff on hand for the 15^th Dubai World Cup Races and the first ever held at the new Meydan Racecourse. “It was not a heavy duty working trip,” says Driessen, “but a very interesting experience to attend the races and see how professionally the entire event was organized.” 

Driessen, double-board-certified in the areas of pharmacology/toxicology and anesthesiology, was invited to make the trip by the Dubai Racing Club and Dubai Equine Hospital. Along with a visiting equine surgeon from Cornell University, he was expected to offer advice and expertise in case any of the horses should require emergency veterinary care and possibly surgery during the special event on Saturday, March 27, 2010. In addition to the guest veterinarians, the surgical staff of the Dubai Equine Hospital was on hand. Races with large winnings typically have multiple veterinarians in attendance. Dr. Driessen also has experiences in equine pain management and frequently consults in this area of his expertise. 

“This was an honor and a pleasure to accept the invitation to the Dubai World Cup,” says Driessen. “The recently completed Meydan Race Track is the world’s newest and probably most prestigious. The stylish racing facility and the event brought together about 110 of the best horses from around the world, 14 of which competed for the $10,000,000 purse of the Dubai World Cup race.” It was the high stakes, and high profile of the horses, according to Driessen, that prompted officials to bring a board-certified anesthesiologist to the event. Driessen has been invited to top competitions in other parts throughout the globe, including the European Dressage Championship. “Increasingly more people are concerned about the quality of anesthesia and pain care for these extraordinarily talented and valuable horses should they get injured. I think it’s a good development in the horse racing industry and other equestrian sports to make the best possible veterinary care available for these animals.”