A racehorse begins to lose consciousness following an anesthetic in the induction and recovery box at Veliefendi, April 6, 2015.

Owners hope prize racehorses, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, will recover quickly and be able to race again.

Treating horses poses a unique set of medical and logistical challenges.

A racehorse is moved into position for an operation.

A racehorse is hoisted up ahead of its operation at Veliefendi equine hospital in Istanbul, April 6, 2015.

The hospital is part of Veliefendi Hipodromu,  the country's oldest and biggest racetrack. Grooms and staff at the equine clinic work with vets and nurses while owners hope their prize runners, often worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, will recover quickly and then run faster still.

A racehorse, escorted by its groom, waits for anesthesia in the induction and recovery box, March 4, 2015.

The same procedures at a typical medical facility for people are applied at the hospital for horses: admission, diagnosis, treatment, surgery.

A racehorse inhales an anesthetic during an operation.

An X-ray is taken of a racehorse's leg at the Veliefendi, March 27, 2015.

Staff talk to the horses, calling them by their names or using terms of endearment like "my boy" to make them comfortable.

A racehorse loses consciousness after being anesthetized in the induction and recovery box on March 3, 2015.

Head veterinary surgeon Hulya Hartoka (L) cleans up a racehorse's joint during the removal of bone fragments, March 4, 2015.

When horses have a problem it has to be treated immediately so the hospital runs 24/7 with a vet on call every day.

A veterinarian (L) monitors a horse undergoing surgery on a fractured leg , March 3, 2015.

The hospital is very pristine.

A racehorse undergoes castration, March 30, 2015.

Veterinary technician Gokhan Boyraz shaves a racehorse's leg as he prepares it for arthroscopic surgery to remove bone fragments, March 3, 2015.

A racehorse is hoisted up before its operation at Veliefendi hospital, April 6, 2015.

Veterinary technicians perform shockwave physiotherapy on a racehorse, March 17, 2015.

Head veterinary surgeon Hulya Hartoka (R) and veterinary surgeon Dursun Dogan (C) are helped by veterinary technician Gokhan Boyraz as they get ready for arthroscopic surgery to remove bone fragments from a racehorse, April 6, 2015.

A racehorse is escorted by its groom during treatment,  March 17, 2015.

Hospital staff prepare a racehorse for an X-ray, March 20, 2015.

Head of veterinary surgery Hulya Hartoka (R) points at an X-ray of a racehorse as she speaks to the horse's owner, March 3, 2015.

The progress of a racehorse is monitored following an operation, March 3, 2015.

A racehorse is led through the Veliefendi equine hospital compound in Istanbul, March 20, 2015.

The hospital is next to the stables.