Pictured, from left to right, are Kristen Ruff, Sr. Equine Marketing Manager, Pfizer Animal Health; Stuart Meikle, Marketing Director, Pfizer Animal Health; Allison Meikle (Stuart's daughter); Dr. Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine; Charles Hayward, CEO of the New York Racing Association; and Jim Gallagher, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

[July 7, 2010; Kennett Square, PA] –On Saturday, June 26, University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine at New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, received a check in the amount of $37,276 for its Fund for Laminitis Research.

The donation was made through the efforts of Pfizer Animal Health and the NTRA Charities, and will go towards the support of scientific research focused on finding a cure for laminitis. The presentation of the donation was made at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY and accepted by Dr. Richardson, Chief of Surgery at New Bolton Center.

Laminitis is a painful and often fatal hoof disease that can afflict any horse. Following his injury during the Preakness Stakes in 2006, the now legendary racehorse Barbaro was taken to New Bolton Center for treatment. Dr. Richardson, Barbaro’s surgeon, and a team of New Bolton Center experts, successfully repaired the shattered bone. Laminitis, however, cost the horse his life. The professionals at Penn Vet are well-known leaders in the field of laminitis, sometimes called founder, and the Laminitis Institute founded at Penn Vet serves as a resource for current information on the state-of-the-art treatment of horses with the disease.

“We are so grateful to the NTRA’s Barbaro Fund for this gift to our laminitis research efforts,” says Joan C. Hendricks, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. “This is a wonderful example of Barbaro’s enduring legacy, the faithfulness of the donors who care about the health and well being of the horse, and what can be accomplished through collaboration and partnership. Our sincere thanks go out to all who made this gift possible.”

The NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, and maintains The Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research. “The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance is proud to be a part of Barbaro’s enduring legacy on behalf of all Thoroughbreds,” said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA. “We also thank Belmont Park and the Belmont jockey colony for making this day possible.”

Pfizer Health made a special donation to kick off Saturday’s event and hosted a jockey autograph session. In addition to donations, funds were raised through the sale of blue Riding with Barbaro wristbands which had been out of circulation since 2007, when more than 90,000 were sold.