The Florida Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent Association (HBPA), in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of equine health and its impact on performance, has partnered with Merial, the maker of GASTROGARD (omeprazole) Paste, the first and only equine gastric ulcer medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Florida HBPA and Merial program includes the first-ever gold level sponsorship by an animal health company and includes a trackside education effort as well as free diagnostic screening.

“This is a first-of-its-kind sponsorship for the Florida HBPA and signifies a new trend by a progressive animal health company toward the promotion of horse health,” said Scott Savin, president, FHBPA. “The HBPA is pleased to provide on-site education to owners and trainers about the importance of optimal horse health on performance, and specifically the prevalence of ulcers in racehorses. As horse-lovers, healthcare is a top priority in the racehorse community.”

The Merial sponsorship is unprecedented in its range. In addition to including trackside signage and television commercials, Merial and Florida HBPA have expanded the general marketing program to include animal healthcare education and an opportunity to have horses that race at Gulfstream clinically examined for equine gastric ulcers. The Florida HBPA and Merial free endoscopic evaluation at Gulfstream Park will be held Feb. 10, 11 and 12. The only definitive tool for diagnosing ulcers is the endoscope, a device that uses a small camera to allow veterinarians to visualize the lining of the stomach