Purdue breaks ground on $8.8 million equine veterinary facility

Courtesy of Purdue UniversityPurdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated the official ground breaking of the $8.8 million Centaur Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center Oct. 20 near the Indiana Grand Racing Casino in Shelbyville, Indiana. The college says the state-of-the-art facility will serve as a working laboratory to support the College of Veterinary Medicine's student learning and research as well as provide specialty medical and surgical services for horse owners.

"This is an exciting day that marks a major milestone in our dream of creating a state-of-the-art equine referral hospital on location in the heart of Indiana's horseracing industry, enabling our college to bring advanced medical and surgical services directly to the equine athletes and their owners," says Willie Reed, DVM, PhD, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of veterinary anatomic pathology. "This center will house the most technologically advanced medical equipment to diagnose and treat equine patients while also facilitating groundbreaking research and vital educational opportunities for students.”

The center, to be completed by the end of 2016, will be part of the Purdue Equine Sports Medicine program based on the West Lafayette campus and will offer advanced diagnostic imaging, shockwave therapy, regenerative medicine, endoscopy laser surgery and specialized equine orthopedic surgery and specialized equine surgery. The one-story, 18,000-square-foot center will be built on land purchased by Purdue Research Foundation with $2.3 million in support from Shelby County and city of Shelbyville. Centaur Gaming, which owns and operates Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, has pledged $3.1 million to name the facility, which will be located just a few miles from the Indiana Grand Racing & Casino's track in Shelbyville. It will also be within an hour's drive from Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson, Indiana.

Courtesy of Purdue University