The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) has announced that Dr. Adam Chambers has been named Manager of Veterinary Services.
Having served the racing community as the Commission Veterinarian at Woodbine Racetrack since 2010, he will now move to take on responsibility for all ORC veterinary programs. This includes such initiatives as:
• The Death Registry, which requires a review of all horses who die within 60 days of racing in Ontario, which in turn provides valuable research data that aids in improving horse health.
• The Out-Of-Competition Program, which allows the testing of horses, outside the normal federal programs, where change of performance or probable cause warrant investigation.
• Unknown Substance Testing Program, which provides funds and process to provide for the testing of unknown substances received as a result of an investigation
• Racehorse Inspection Program, which standardizes and coordinates the results of physical inspections, both pre and post racing.
• Clenbuterol Testing Program in Quarter Horse racing.
Dr. Chambers will serve as a liaison with other racing jurisdictions, regulatory agencies and stakeholders in matters concerning equine medication control, and horse health and welfare issues. He will also work closely with Dr. Bruce Duncan, the Supervisor of Commission Standardbred Veterinarians.
In order to reduce regulatory costs, Dr. Chambers will split his time as a shared resource with the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA), serving in a part-time capacity as the research manager at the federal Equine Research Centre in Jerseyville, Ontario.
This is just one example of how the ORC is creating efficiency, expertise and opportunity through multi-agency initiatives, aimed at enhancing Ontario’s position as a strong regulator.
“The ORC and the racing community are extremely fortunate to have retained a veterinarian professional with the qualifications of Adam Chambers,” said ORC Deputy Director Rob McKinney. “This joint effort with CPMA will certainly benefit both organizations, in our mutual efforts to protect the integrity of horse racing.”
CPMA Executive Director Steve Suttie agrees. “Now, more than ever, it is important that we capitalize on opportunities to work collaboratively with provincial regulators to maintain an effective and efficient equine drug control program. We look forward to working closely with the ORC on this initiative, and to exploring other opportunities with all provincial regulators that support both the federal and provincial mandates.”
Suttie also was pleased to point out that Dr. Mike Weber, who was instrumental in developing the Canadian drug control program, has agreed to delay his planned retirement to work alongside Dr. Chambers during this transition period.
For his part, Chambers is enthusiastic about his new responsibilities. “Ontario is recognized worldwide as a leader in innovative solutions to regulatory issues, and it is exciting to be a part of it. As well, I am looking forward to working with the racing community to help shape new advancements in the area of horse health and welfare.”
Prior to joining the ORC, he worked for a number of years in private practice at Woodbine Racetrack, and earlier in California.
Dr. Chambers is a graduate of the University of Glasgow (Scotland) with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.
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