Bramlage, Fallon, Lavin to be honored by Thoroughbred Club of America

Bramlage, Fallon, Lavin to be honored by Thoroughbred Club

of America

Among his best known cases was repairing Personal Ensign's fracture which had

appeared to be career-ending. After surgery, Personal Ensign returned to

continue her unbeaten career, culminating in a dramatic victory in the 1988

Breeders' Cup Distaff.

A native of Kansas, Dr. Bramlage graduated from Kansas State University and

taught at The Ohio State University before moving to Lexington, Kentucky, in

1989 to join Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, where he became a partner in 1992.

Dr. Fallon represents the fourth generation of a family of veterinarians

whose connection to Kentucky dates from 1875, when a Scottish-educated

veterinarian named Edward Thomas Hagyard was called to Kentucky to consult on a

valuable Shorthorn bull. An equine practice grew from that visit.

Third-generation Charles Edward Hagyard was joined in the practice in 1940 by

Arthur Davidson and William McGee, which completed the team that for decades was

known as Hagyard-Davidson-McGee (now Hagyard Equine Medical Institute).

Dr. Ed Fallon is the son of Dr. Charles Hagyard's sister. He graduated from

Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1956, and his son Luke Hagyard

Fallon, a fifth generation equine veterinarian, graduated from Cornell in 1996.

In taking his turn of stewardship of the revered old firm, Dr. Ed Fallon was

instrumental in bringing about an era of increased efficiency in broodmare

management. He utilized and promoted such scientific developments as ovarian

palpation to determine pregnancy in mares and use of artificial lighting to

stimulate estrous cycles.

Dr. Lavin is the son of well-known racing secretary Allan Lavin and grew up

in the sport. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary

college in 1962 and for many years was a practitioner and surgeon on the race

track. The many honors he received reflect the quality of care he gave to

clients and their horses. They include his alma mater's Bellwether Medal for

Distinguished Leadership, status as a Distinguished Life Member of the American

Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and designation as a Distinguished

Practitioner of the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners.

Further indication of the respect he has earned within his profession was the

AAEP's establishment of the Lavin Cup for Equine Welfare in 1996.

Dr. Lavin has given his time and leadership to many roles, having been

president of the AAEP and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, as well as

steward of The Jockey Club, trustee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders

Association, The Breeders' Cup, and presently as director of Keeneland and as

vice chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.

Lavin and his family operate Longfield Farm in Goshen, Kentucky. Lavin's

wife, Betsy, serves on the Kentucky Racing Commission, and their sons are

involved in bloodstock agency and equine insurance.

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