Washington State University - Chinook Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

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With one of the few research tracks in the country, the veterinarian school is a leader in... Racing Research How many universities can boast a pub, a bookie, and a race track, all within walking distance of campus? Actually, the race track on campus is purely for research and rehabilitation of horses, and the Students Book Corporation doesn’t take bets of any kind. The Hitchcock Research Track, located across from the Jewett Observatory, has been in use since 1980. The original goal of the research track was towards sports medicine, and at the time Washington State was a pioneer in the relatively new field. Since then, WSU has become a leader in equine sports medicine. Prior to the construction of the research track, the only places to exercise the horses brought to the WSU Veterinary Hospital for surgery were Orton Field or on the few spare patches of grass around campus. Dr. Barrie Grant, a veterina¬ rian here, realized that there was no safe place on campus to exercise quality horses, and that many ailments and disorders were apparent at fast paces seen only on the track. Dr. Grant saw the need for a track on campus, not only for diagnosis, but for rehabilitation and research as well. He also knew that f unding to build such a facility would be difficult to obtain. “The whole idea for the research track started out as a pipe dream of mine,” Dr. Grant said. “We had to have something extra to offer those people who brought their horses here.” After the new Veterinary Sciences building was completed, about $ 100,000 was left over from the building fund specifical¬ ly for the purpose of disposing of the dirt excavated from the basement of Vet Sciences. That money went into a building fund for the research facility, and the Hitchcock Track was eventually made possible by private donations, totaling over $ 200 , 000 . A large portion of the money to build the track came from Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Hitchcock of White Swan, Washington. “When we were first introduced to Dr. Grant, we were im¬ pressed with the work he was doing,” Mrs. Hitchcock said. “We could see the need and the potential for such a facility. They had the land, but no money to develop it. At the time, we were in a position to help financially.” Despite the many donations the Hitchcocks have made to Racing for research. Dr. Barrie Grant (in red) and Karin Stronberg take two horses quickly around the Hitchcock race track. The track is one of the few research facilities of its kind in the United States. (All photos by Scott Oborn) 24 Expressions