Reed dies
Dr. William O. Reed, who was respected internationally as one
of the finest equine practitioners of his time, passed away Saturday morning
at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York. He was 83.
A native of Wilford Center, Ohio, Reed earned his veterinary
degree in 1944 from Ohio State University and was hailed for his work with champion Stymie
in 1948 when he diagnosed and treated a sesamoid fracture in the horse’s right forefoot.
Reed went on to work with Dr. Fager, Damascus, Summer
Solstice, Tim Tam, Hoist the Flag and Conquistador Cielo. He
performed the surgery on the ill-fated Ruffian following her
injury in a match race with Foolish Pleasure on July 6, 1975.
A past president of the American Association of Equine
Practitioners, Reed and his wife, Audrey, owned and operated Mare
Haven Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. They recently sold the farm.
Funeral mass will be Tuesday morning at St. Joseph’s Roman
Catholic Church in Garden City, New York. Reed is survived by his
wife, Audrey.