NEWS
Mary Scollay, D.V.M.
Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 2:08 PM
MARY SCOLLAY, D.V.M.
Jim Lisa photo
Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
In developing the Equine Injury Database, Mary Scollay, D.V.M., has brought consistency to the collection of Thoroughbred injury data and given the industry a better understanding of the problem.
Scollay started working as a regulatory veterinarian in 1988 in Illinois, then shifted to Florida as senior association veterinarian for Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park before being hired as the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s first equine medical director. In Florida, Scollay developed an innovative equine injury reporting system.
Scollay helped establish the Equine Injury Database for the Jockey Club in 2008.
A racing fan since childhood, Scollay still loves the sport. She found herself smooching and chirping encouragement in watching Zenyatta’s most recent win on television. Scollay believes trail-blazing women like Patti Barton, Dr. Jane Richardson, and Christine Janks helped her avoid gender bias.
“The trail has been blazed; gender isn’t an issue—and, in my experience, it never has been, even back when I first started working on the racetrack,” Scollay said. “Gender is an obstacle only to the extent that you make it one. It rarely has anything to do with competently doing your job. I’m proud and honored to be the first equine medical director for Kentucky. I’m even more proud that no one feels the need to insert ‘female’ in my title.”
Date of birth: May 16, 1958
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
Residence: Georgetown, Kentucky
Title: Equine medical director
Company: Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Augustana College; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois
Family: Married
Career: Regulatory veterinarian at Balmoral Park, Sportsman’s Park, Hawthorne Race Course, and Arlington Park, 1988 to ’95; senior association veterinarian at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park, ’95 to 2008
Biggest professional achievement: “Spearheading Equine InjuryDatabase development.”
Favorite horse: Majestic Prince
What book are you currently reading? Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, by Christopher Andrew
Favorite television show: “Survivor”
Outlook on the industry: “I’m saddened to see this sport falling into relative obscurity. I don’t hear people asking where horse racing will be in 25 years, I hear them asking if there will be horse racing in 25 years. I think about the history and tradition of this sport and hope that horse racing won’t be lost due to a public’s indifference.”
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