Case Clay, president and chief executive officer of Three Chimneys Farm, was named chair of the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation’s board of directors at its October meeting. Art Zubrod, manager of Brittany Farm, was named vice chair.

“Being elected chair of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation means a lot to me, as my grandfather, Albert G. Clay, was one of the founders and a board chair. My father, Robert Clay, also served on the board,” Clay said. “I will take this honor very seriously, and I am excited to work with the board to take the world's only research facility with the majority of faculty doing full-time equine research to the next level.”

Clay joined the board in January 2010. Clay serves as a member of the Breeders’ Cup and also serves on the boards of directors of Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), the Federal Political Action Committee of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Kentucky Derby Museum.

“I am excited to work closely with Case as the new chair of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation. Case comes with a great knowledge of the horse industry and experience on numerous boards. This combination will provide him with the tools to be a very effective leader for the Gluck Foundation,” said Ed Squires, director of UK Ag Equine Programs and executive director of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation.

“Mr. Case Clay’s leadership brings new enthusiasm combined with strong knowledge and experience from the horse industry to the Gluck Equine Research Foundation. I am looking forward to working with Case to navigate the Gluck Center through a new era of research that benefits the health and well-being of horses in Kentucky and around the world,” said Mats Troedsson, director of the Gluck Equine Research Center and chair of the UK Department of Veterinary Science.

Clay takes the leadership reins from Walter Zent, a veterinarian and former partner at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, who served on the Gluck Equine Research Foundation’s board of directors from December 2000 to October.

“Dr. Zent has served the Gluck Equine Research Foundation during a time that saw a change in leadership, expansion of research facilities at Maine Chance Equine Campus as well as financial challenges during the global downturn of the economy,” Troedsson said. “His longstanding association with the Gluck Center, combined with a true compassion for advances in equine veterinary medicine and science, made him uniquely suited to lead the Gluck Foundation during this time.”

“I can truly say that Walter is one of the most passionate people about the Gluck Center that I know. He has been a great advocate for the faculty and research coming out of the center,” Squires said. “Tom (Goncharoff) was the perfect vice chair. He was never afraid to question the status quo.”

Zubrod replaces Goncharoff, manager of Crystal Springs Farm in New Mexico, as vice chair. Goncharoff has served on the Gluck Equine Research Foundation’s board of directors since December 2006. Goncharoff’s term expires in January 2015.

Gluck Equine Research Foundation directors are elected to a four-year term and can serve two four-year terms. The Gluck Equine Research Foundation was formed as a nonprofit organization to provide the exchange of information between the Gluck Center and the horse industry and to secure funds. Since the foundation’s inception, it has been highly supportive in raising funds for equine research, endowed faculty positions and facilities.

The mission of the Gluck Center, a UK Ag Equine program, is scientific discovery, education and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of the health and well-being of horses. The Gluck Center faculty conducts equine research in six targeted areas: genetics and genomics, infectious diseases and immunology, musculoskeletal science, parasitology, pharmacology/toxicology and reproductive health.

For more information on the Gluck Center, visit http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck.