Soon after the Memorial was founded in 2005, Dr. Eva Berriman emailed me from Australia. She was an independent veterinarian and animal advocate in Highfields (Toowoomba), Queensland. Formerly she had bred Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, and served as a vet for local racetracks. But by the time we met, she had left the horseracing industry.
Eva truly cared about animals and would educate and advocate on their behalf internationally. We corresponded regularly about the industry, horse management and welfare, ethics, advocacy, and the tragedy of racehorse wastage.
One day, she consolidated all of our emails into one extensive document and sent it to me as a surprise. It was an amazing gift and educational dialogue, and I am shocked that I have lost it.
Eva wanted to remember Dulcify (NZ), who perished in the Melbourne Cup at FLE on 11/6/1979. He appears in the Memorial’s “Years 1800-2013” section.
In March 2009 I got an email from one of Eva’s relatives informing me that she had passed away from a short illness. He did not disclose further, nor had Eva mentioned any illness to me and may not have had the chance.
She was a gracious, generous, and humble woman, and I am forever grateful for having known her, and for her encouragement and the friendship we shared.
—The Editor
(If anyone reading this knew or has information about Eva, I invite you to reach out via the “Suggest a Horse” form.)
