William O. Reed, DVM, died Oct. 23 at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. He was 83 years old.

Internationally regarded as one of the finest equine practitioners of his time, Reed is perhaps most remembered for his surgery on the ill-fated Thoroughbred Ruffian at his veterinary hospital across the street from Belmont Park following her injury during the match race against Foolish Pleasure on July 6, 1975. 

A native of Wilford Center, Ohio, Reed earned his veterinary degree from Ohio State University in 1944.

Reed’s breakthrough came in 1948 when he diagnosed and treated racehorse Stymie’s sesamoid fracture in the right forefoot following a fourth-place finish in the Monmouth Handicap