Gaming Commission

Equine Medical Director
Scott E. Palmer, VMD

Scott E. Palmer, VMD, a renowned veterinarian with more than three decades of experience in providing medical care for horses, oversees the health and safety of horses at all New York State Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks.

Dr. Palmer is responsible for all aspects of equine health, safety, and welfare at New York racetracks and advises the Commission on equine medication policies as well as the safety and condition of racetrack facilities and surfaces. He supervises all on-track regulatory veterinarians as well as the New York State Equine Drug Testing Program laboratory. He oversees equine testing procedures, ensures compliance with regulatory veterinary protocols, investigates incidents and monitors the Commission’s necropsy program.

As New York’s Equine Medical Director, Dr. Palmer also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he is responsible for developing and coordinating continuing education programs for veterinarians and trainers related to medication and equine injuries. He coordinates research on equine sports medicine topics and collaborates with faculty on epidemiological studies to analyze equine safety issues.

Since his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1976, Dr. Palmer has worked as a staff clinician at the New Jersey Equine Clinic, serving as the Hospital Director since 1997. He is a two-time recipient of the New Jersey Equine Practitioners Veterinarian of the Year award, as well as a recipient of the AAEP President’s Award in 2009 and the AAEP Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

Dr. Palmer is board certified in equine practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. He has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications and is a featured speaker at veterinary conferences worldwide. He is a member of several professional organizations and has held leadership positions in many, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, and the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners.

Dr. Palmer chaired the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety, which was formed at the request of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2012 in the wake of 21 equine fatalities during Aqueduct’s 2011-12 Winter Meet. The New York State Equine Medical Director position was established in 2013 as a key recommendation of that Task Force.

Dr. Palmer serves as a Board Member for the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Advisory Board and the Thoroughbred Charities of America. He previously served on the ARCI Special Task Force on Medication and chaired the International Summit on Race Day Medication as well as the Ad-Hoc RMTC Committee on Race Day Security and served two terms as a member of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Advisory Committee.