April Downey, VMD

Dr. April Downey grew up outside of Saratoga Springs, New York. She always had an interest in horses, going to the races and riding show horses while she was growing up, and she rode for the Boston University equestrian team while an undergraduate there. Dr. Downey also had a strong interest in marine life, and decided to pursue that field in her college studies, receiving her undergraduate degree in marine biology from Boston University in 1996. During her junior year, she decided to go to vet school and attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine where her love of horses changed the direction of her vet school program toward equine sports medicine and surgery. She spent the four summers of her vet school years riding with a racetrack veterinarian at Saratoga, and she received her veterinary medical degree in 2000.

Since graduating veterinary school, Dr. Downey has spent her entire veterinary career working with racehorses at the racetrack. Initially in Maryland practicing at Laurel, Bowie, and Pimlico racetracks. Then for four years she practiced at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Saratoga, and Palm Meadows Training Center. In April 2005, she joined Teigland, Franklin & Brokken, and enjoyed practicing at Saratoga Race Track in the summer and Palm Meadows Training Center during the winter. In 2014, she decided to stay in Saratoga exclusively and practices there from April thru November.

Dr. Downey’s primary areas of interest are lameness, upper airway problems, and diagnostics, including the use of digital radiographs and ultrasonography. She is licensed in Florida, New York, Delaware, and Maryland and is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners.

Outside of work, she enjoys international travel, SCUBA diving, swimming, skiing, hiking and spending time with her daughter Isabelle, her German Shepherd Roxie, and two cats. (Source)