Horserace Betting Levy Board

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) is inviting applications for new Veterinary Research Training Scholarships and Senior Equine Clinical Scholarships to start in 2015.

• Veterinary Research Training Scholarships offer 3-year funding to veterinary graduates who wish to pursue a PhD programme in any scientific or veterinary field relevant to equines and particularly the racing or breeding Thoroughbred.

• Senior Equine Clinical Scholarships allow veterinary graduates with at least 2 years’ experience to train for a higher qualification, such as a European Diploma, over 4 years. The qualification must be in an equine field with particular relevance to the Thoroughbred.

Applications for both types of award must be made by the prospective supervisor within an eligible institution, such as university veterinary school, other university department or research institute. Awards include a tax-free stipend to cover living costs and an expense allowance for research costs and other purposes directly relevant to the scholarship.

Professor Peter O’Shaughnessy, Chair of the HBLB’s Education Sub Committee, commented: “Investment in training the equine researchers and specialist clinicians of the future is fundamental to the on-going health and wellbeing of racing and breeding horses. Maintaining an annual round of education awards, which include a serious research project element, is a priority. Competition for these awards is always intense and any student fortunate enough to secure one of the funded posts will have an excellent training opportunity.”

The deadline for submission of applications is 2pm on Wednesday 18th June 2014. Applications will be assessed by the HBLB’s Veterinary Advisory Committee with the awards for 2015 to be approved in mid December.

For full information and to apply, please download an application pack from the ‘eterinary Science and Education.

For further details please contact the HBLB Equine Grants team at equine.grants@hblb.org.uk


Notes for editors:

The Levy Board is a statutory body operating in accordance with the provisions of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 (as amended). Its purpose is to assess and collect monetary contributions from bookmakers and the successor company to the Tote via a levy, which it distributes for the improvement of horseracing and breeds of horses, and for the advancement of veterinary science and education.

The Levy Board has commemorated its 50th anniversary of funding veterinary science research. The outcomes are published in peer reviewed scientific journals and lay summaries are available at racehorsehealth.hblb.org.uk.

The Board is currently supporting three 4-year clinical scholarships and nine 3-year research scholarships. An additional 3-year research scholarship is being funded by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

For further information please contact Annie Dodd, Grants Manager at HBLB, at equine.grants@hblb.org.uk or on 020 7333 0043.