Equine researcher Stanley joining University of Kentucky

Dr. Scott Stanley, who heads California’s equine drug-testing laboratory at the University of California-Davis, has accepted a position at the University of Kentucky in Lexington as the professor of analytical chemistry at the Maxwell G. Gluck Equine Research Center, according to the universities.

Stanley has been at the forefront of California’s equine drug-testing efforts for nearly 20 years and is considered one of the foremost experts in the field. Stanley is expected to move to Lexington early next year, the University of Kentucky said. Stanley, who is from Kentucky, received a bachelor’s degree in animal science at UK in 1988 and received his doctoral degree in toxicology from the university in 1992.

UK said that Stanley’s focus at the Gluck Center will be on “developing new anti-doping approaches and the establishment of an equine biological passport.” Stanley has been conducting research on the development of biological passports for several years, using funding from industry sources such as the California Horse Racing Board and The Jockey Club.

The CHRB said that Dr. Ben Moeller will take over at the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at UC-Davis once Stanley departs. Moeller ran the lab while Stanley was on a recent sabbatical, the CHRB said.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Dr. Stanley,” said Chuck Winner, the chairman of the CHRB, in a statement. “We will miss him and the wonderful work that he has done for California racing.”