Dr. Peter Hester serves as HISA’s National Medical Director, where he leads initiatives to support jockey health and welfare, including mitigating risk of injury, securing elite medical care, improving and optimizing health care services and developing and sourcing affordable medical insurance for these athletes and their families.

An Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, Dr. Hester currently practices at Lexington Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky. He also serves as the Director of Sports Medicine and Head Team Physician for numerous colleges, high schools and club teams across the state of Kentucky.

Dr. Hester previously served as an independent member of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Standing Committee.

Dr. Hester earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania before completing medical school and his Orthopedic Surgery residency at the University of Kentucky. He pursued a Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery Fellowship at The Hughston Clinic and has practiced at Lexington Clinic since 2002.

Originally from Garden City, New York, Dr. Hester developed a passion for the sport of Thoroughbred racing while working at Belmont Racetrack for Dr. William O. Reed, a renowned Equine Veterinary Surgeon. During medical school, he worked as a night watchman and farm hand at Ballindaggin Horse Farm.