Jockey Club Information for Off Track Thoroughbred Owners

The Importance of Passing on the Papers

What exactly is a birth certificate? It's so much more than just a piece of paper. It's the official record of you – your age, nationality, heritage and existence. It allows you to receive healthcare, be enrolled in school, get married, get a driver's license, obtain a passport — and if you misplace it (which many of us probably have at one time or another), getting it replaced is both necessary and a pain in the you-know-what.

For Thoroughbreds, birth certificates are their Jockey Club Certificate of Registration, or “Jockey Club papers.” A horse's Jockey Club papers allow them, among other things, to be sold at public auction, race in sanctioned events, and be bred to other Thoroughbreds to produce the next generation of the breed. 

Why is it, then, that while humans would never intentionally part ways with that precious piece of 'paper', Thoroughbreds are routinely sold, adopted out or given away after racing sans papers?

Note: For foals of 2018 and later, the Jockey Club has changed to registration through digital certificates. 

More information is available at https://www.registry.jockeyclub.com/registry

Sellers should transfer the digital registration certificate along with a bill of sale to the new purchasers Jockey Club Interactive Registration account.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)

TAA  is an organization designed to serve two roles: first, as the accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers and second, as a fund-raising body to support these accredited facilities. With the support of leading industry organizations involved with Thoroughbreds throughout their lifecycle from breeding, registration, sales, racing and other activities, the TAA will provide donors with confidence that their financial contributions are directed only to Thoroughbred aftercare facilities meeting the strictest standards of care.

Digital tattoos and foal papers 

Digital tattoos and foal papers for racehorses not only are coming, they're here. After Dec. 31, 2019, only electronic rather than hard-copy registration papers will be issued and the physical ink-based lip tattoo will be officially replaced with a microchip. Curtis Linnell, executive vice president of the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, and TRPB agent Emma Smith provided an update on digital tattoos for horsemen at the convention.

The electronic papers will include photographs of a horse's markings and identifying characteristics, as well as a history of ownership, sales, claims and more. Also to be logged: any time a set of electronic papers is pulled up for viewing, including by a track racing office, stewards, veterinarians and in the case of a claim or sale.

The microchip will be the size of a grain of rice and have a 15-digit number. The Jockey Club, North American racing's official registrar, made microchipping optional for foals born in 2016 and mandatory starting with thoroughbreds born in 2017. The electronic papers became available in 2018, though physical papers still could be requested.

“Lip tattoos will end Dec. 31, 2019,” Linnell said. “So if you want to get your horse with a lip tattoo, you better get that horse scheduled now with a technician. We will be applying digital tattoos at some point this year in addition to lip tattoos. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, we'll do digital for every horse that is identified. We aren't ordering new dyes, new cast irons or anything else.”

Retired from Racing Rule

This information is important for buyers of off track Thoroughbreds as many owners or trainers do not want the off track Thoroughbred to be used as a racehorse in the future. 

This form allows the seller to officially register this stipulation with the Jockey Club.

What is Sold as Retired from Racing?

If an owner desires a Thoroughbred to be considered retired from racing, the completion of a Sold As Retired From Racing allows the owner to retire a Thoroughbred from racing without affecting its breeding privileges.

Within 60 days after the date of sale, the Seller and Purchaser of a Thoroughbred are to complete a Sold As Retired From Racing form. Both signatures must be notarized.  

The Certificate of Foal Registration, four (4) color photographs (front, both sides and rear views) must also be submitted to the Registry. Upon receipt in the registry office within 60 days from the date of the sale and compliance with all requirements, the Certificate of Foal Registration will be stamped "Retired from Racing" and returned to the purchaser.