Less than three years after announcing a transition from the legacy lip tattoo system to a more efficient and accurate method of identifying horses, the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) today announced that more than 35,000 pure- blood have now been digitally tattooed.

The Digital Tattoo is an electronic authentication confirming the identity of a horse by a trained TRPB technician.

“Every 2-year-old in the race, every 3-year-old and a significant proportion of 4-year-olds have digital tattoos and by the end of 2021 we estimate that 75% of thoroughbreds will enter the racetrack paddock with a Tattoo, ”said J. Curtis Linnell, Executive Vice President, TRPB. “We have 56 TRPB technicians under contract in the United States and Canada and even with the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to inspect, document and authenticate the identity of thoroughbreds before their first onset of life.”

The digital watermarking process begins when the technician scans the horse’s microchip and, if correctly flagged, the microchip number links to the Jockey Club’s electronic registration information displayed on a tablet.

Using the foal images as a reference, each marking description is compared to the physical markings of the horse. Once the markings, color and gender of the horse have been verified, the technician documents the horse by taking 12 to 14 digital photos. These images are uploaded to the Jockey Club registry database and thus become part of the horse’s digital record.

The TRPB technician then affixes a TRPB logo on the electronic registration certificate. This seal indicates that the TRPB has verified the identity of the horse and certified that the thoroughbred is digitally tattooed in the breed registry database.

“The new system has been well received not only by the riders but also by the race office staff and regulators,” said Linnell. “We were delighted to see that this year’s 14-race Travers Day card at Saratoga Racecourse featured all of the horses on the card, with one exception, sporting a digital tattoo.”

Despite the success and widespread adoption of the new system to date, the TRPB is striving for improvement in two areas: increased awareness and the deployment of the InCompass Solutions Digital Identifier mobile app for the identification of horses on the race day; and wider use by the entire horse racing industry of digital tattoo information.

The accuracy of the identification process begins when the breeder declares the microchip number as part of the foal registration.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of correctly reporting the microchip,” said Teena Appleby, TRPB’s technical operations manager. “This is the only way for our technician to start the horse identity authentication process. A microchip in a desk drawer is not helping anyone.

“Using the Digital Identifier mobile app is the only way to identify horses on race day,” according to Appleby.

With a username and password provided by InCompass, horse IDs, race office staff, stable area security and other racetrack officials can automatically access the file. digital tattoo that includes the horse’s face photo, photos of each markings, horse name, horse color and Jockey Club foal registration certificate.

“These people now have immediate access to the horse’s photo ID, which is akin to a passport or driver’s license and with more identification tools than they have ever had before. before, ”Linnell said. “A thoroughbred should never have to be struck out of a race because of an identification problem, or that an incorrect horse is allowed to start a race.”

TRPB agent Rachael Mant, based at TRPB’s headquarters in Maryland, makes a weekly visit to the Fair Hill Training Center to digitally tattoo thoroughbreds. The trainers there adopted the new system.

“This system has worked very well,” said Mike Trombetta. “The days of lip tattoos are in the rearview mirror. “

Trainer Keri Brion says, “The digital ID system is so much better because you can still see them. It’s much easier and I much prefer it.

Coach Arnaud Delacour said: “Tattoos on older horses can be very difficult to read and that’s a big plus if we don’t have to flip the lip before a race. “

Trainer Graham Motion says he wished the Digital Tattoo system had been adopted 10 years ago.

“This system is much more up to date. This is a clearer version of identifying horses and monitoring them. It’s a lot more organized and a lot easier.

Lori Wydick, paddock horse identifier for two Ohio racetracks, said, “I prefer to see the identifiable markings of the horse in the photos of the horses in the Digital Identifier program. The program contains current photos of their digital tattoos as well as registration photos of the horses. Photos are undeniable pieces of identification. Photos of cowlicks, nocturnal eyes, and other identifiable markings are invaluable.

The TRPB is an investigative body formed in 1946 by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America to protect the integrity of the sport.

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