Blog Post

FAQ’s – Digital Tattoos

CTHS Manitoba • Sep 01, 2019
  • What is a TRPB Digital Tattoo?

    A digital tattoo indicates that a Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) technician has

    authenticated the identity of a horse by virtue of an in-person inspection that includes scanning the

    Thoroughbred’s microchip, comparing markings and photos from The Jockey Club database and

    uploading updated digital photographs to the breed registry.

  • Why is the TRPB introducing the so-called digital tattoo?

    With wireless technology, two-factor authentication (scanning the microchip and sharing updated photos of horses of racing age) provides a superior form of identification and further ensures integrity.

  • When will this change take place?

    In keeping with a model rule adopted by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI), the digital tattoo system will be implemented by January 1, 2020. The model rule states that the racing secretary shall ensure all Thoroughbred horses entered to race that were foaled in 2018 or thereafter have a TRPB Digital Tattoo. [This Digital Tattoo shall indicate that the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau has confirmed the identity of the horse and uploaded updated digital photographs to the breed registry database.]

  • What horses will this effect?

    Starting January 1, 2020, any Thoroughbred making a first lifetime start in a recognized pari-mutuel race, that has not been previously tattooed, will need to have the TRPB Digital Tattoo in order to be correctly identified in the paddock and permitted to race

  • Who will be doing the digital tattoo and where will it be done?

    The TRPB employs 56 technicians throughout the United States and Canada who will be responsible for applying the digital tattoo, which is an electronic validation of the horse’s identity, to the horse’s certificate of foal registration located in the horse’s database

  • What does an owner need to do before his/her Thoroughbred receives the digital tattoo?

    The owner must ensure that his or her Thoroughbred has been microchipped and registered with The Jockey Club. The TRPB technician will collect the standard TRPB tattoo fee when he or she inspects the horse and upon confirmation of identity, applies the digital tattoo.

  • How will a horse identifier at the racetrack access a digital tattoo?

    Horse identifiers will use a microchip scanner and a tablet that provides electronic foal papers and the pictures of the horse recently uploaded by the TRPB technician who is providing the digital tattoo.

  • What officials will have access to the digital tattoo?

    Regulatory officials, racing secretaries, horse identification personnel, and stewards may have

    credentialed access to The Jockey Club Registry horse identification webpage.

  • Does TRPB recommend any particular scanners or tablets?

    The TRPB recommends a Datamars Omni Bluetooth Scanner and a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

  • Where can I learn more about microchipping and registering a foal?

    The Jockey Club has produced and made available a three-minute instructional video that illustrates the implantation of microchips, which became a condition of foal registration starting with foals born in 2017 or later. The video, and other information, is available at registry.jockeyclub.com.

  • Where can I learn more about the introduction of the digital tattoo?

    The TRPB website will feature additional information during the rollout of the digital tattoo. Questions may be directed to Emma Smith of the TRPB at (410) 398-2261, Ext. 248.

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With the introduction of a digital tattoo system now less than four months away, the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) announced today that it has conducted technician training in 25 states and five Canadian provinces, and that more than 900 Thoroughbreds have already received their digital tattoos. The new system is scheduled for full implementation by January 1, 2020. “Effective January 1st, 2020, all Thoroughbred horses that have not previously been TRPB lip tattooed must have a Digital Tattoo for race day identification,” said J. Curtis Linnell, Executive Vice President of the TRPB. “This Digital Tattoo indicates that the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau has confirmed the identity of the horse and uploaded updated digital photographs to the breed registry database at The Jockey Club.” The TRPB provides authentication of identity for every Thoroughbred racing jurisdiction in the United States and Canada. The transition to the TRPB Digital Tattoo was preceded by a requirement by The Jockey Club which calls for any Thoroughbred foaled in 2017 or after to be microchipped prior to being registered. In essence, the digital tattoo is an electronic validation of the identity of a horse performed by a TRPB Technician. The technician uses a scanner to read the horse’s microchip and that microchip number hyperlinks to electronic registration information consisting of high-resolution digital photos of the horse and its markings. The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) passed a model rule regarding digital tattoos. The model rule states, effective January 1, 2020, the racing secretary shall ensure that the registration certificates for all Thoroughbred horses that were foaled in 2017 or thereafter have a digital tattoo prior to entry in a race. Linnell stressed the importance of regulatory commissions and racing associations being familiar with the impending change. “With racing commissions, we want to make sure that they have rules in place that specifically reference the Digital Tattoo for identification to avoid scratching horses from a race come January 1,” he said. “As for racing associations, we are encouraging all of them to make sure racing office personnel understand the digital tattoo certification and are planning and preparing to incorporate digital tattoos for horse identification.” Linnell said the current practice of branding horses on the inside lip will be discontinued at the end of 2019. He also said that the new system has received encouraging responses when TRPB personnel and TRPB technicians have met with racing officials, regulators, horse identification employees and other industry officials over the course of the past two years. “For the most part, they seem excited about Digital Tattoos,” he said. “They realize it will provide a more efficient and effective system of identification.” The technician training has been held in: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. The training has also been conducted in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The TRPB, based in Fair Hill, Maryland, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America and serves as a national investigative agency in the horse racing industry with the goal of maintaining public confidence in the sport of Thoroughbred racing. Additional information about TRPB and the Digital Tattoo is available at trpb.com.
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