Thoroughbred Racing Protective BureauHorse Identity established through the Digital Tattoo™
Effective January 1, 2020, any Thoroughbred that has not been previously lip tattooed and is making its first lifetime start in a recognized pari-mutuel race, must have the Digital Tattoo™ in order to be correctly identified in the paddock and permitted to race.
The transition to the Digital Tattoo™ follows the recent requirement by The Jockey Club for a horse to be microchipped as part of the registration process. All foals from 2017 onward have a listed microchip on their Jockey Club papers.
The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) Model Rule 006-020 B. (5) regarding Digital Tattoos™. This rule states: “Effective January 1, 2020, the Racing Secretary shall ensure that the foal certificates for all Thoroughbred horses entered to race that were foaled in 2018, or thereafter, have a "Digital Tattoo™." This Digital Tattoo™ shall indicate that the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau has confirmed the identity of the horse and uploaded digital photographs to the breed registry database.”
In essence, the Digital Tattoo™ is an electronic validation of the identity of a horse performed by a trained TRPB Technician. The Technician will use equipment to read the horse's microchip which will in turn hyperlink to electronic registration information. After fully examining the gender, color, and markings comparing to the photos and description contained in the horse's electronic record, the technician will confirm the identity of the horse standing in front of him or her and upload a selection of digital pictures documenting the horse’s attributes to The Jockey Club's database. The TRPB Technician will then place a digital credential stamp on the electronic certificate of registration. This Digital Tattoo™ will indicate that the TRPB has verified the identity of the horse and uploaded, updated digital photographs to the breed registry's database. This electronic record will be the permanent Picture ID for the horse’s racing and post-racing career.
For additional information regarding the Digital Tattoo™, please contact TRPB at tattoo@trpb.com.
TRPB Technicians
The TRPB currently has 58 Technicians operating throughout Canada and the United States who are fully trained in awarding the Digital Tattoo™ and are prepared to scan, photograph, and certify your Thoroughbred for official identification purposes.
To have your Thoroughbred certified with a Digital Tattoo™ there must be a valid Certificate of Foal Registration issued by The Jockey Club with the horse's name and correct microchip number reported on the certificate. Once your Thoroughbred has completed their first registered workout, they must be identified with the Digitally Tattoo™ prior to running their first lifetime start in an acknowledged race. There is a US$106/CA$136* (plus tax where applicable) fee, payable by credit card, for each horse TRPB-certified at a recognized racetrack or training center. Any special trips to training facilities or hunt meets may require an additional charge, quoted in advance, to cover the TRPB Technician's travel expense.
Any thoroughbred whose markings are at variance with its Jockey Club Certificate of Foal Registration will be digitally photographed but certified as TRPB Non-Compliant “N-C” until the registration papers are corrected. Once these are corrected, a call to TRPB can get the N-C removed and the horse will be ready to race. Please note that the Technician is not responsible to submit corrections.
Any thoroughbred whose reported microchip does not read or is incorrect will be rejected for tattooing and may have to be re-DNA typed for verification. Any Thoroughbred rejected for certification must receive a corrected certificate with a correctly reported microchip before being examined and photographed by a Technician and awarded a Digital Tattoo™ credential.
To arrange to have your Thoroughbred certified, please contact TRPB at Phone: +410-398-2261 or via email at tattoo@trpb.com
Attention Thoroughbred owners! Horse Identity Research
Do you own a lip-tattooed Thoroughbred but don't know its registered name, pedigree, and racing history? Or have you scanned the horse to find it has a microchip number and you don't know the identity of the horse? The TRPB is the source for this information.
For further information, please contact TRPB at Phone: +410-398-2261, via email at tattoo@trpb.com, or download the pdf application form.
There is a $15 fee for horse identity research payable through check or credit card.
* Price effective January 1, 2024
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