Anybody with detailed contact concerning rachorses and racehorse tattoos?

Question

We just encountered an extremely suspicious set of people selling this ex-racehorse. His name is Kentucky Trust (tattoo #: C13054). He's about 17hh, black with a star and two socks?. He is about 8 years old and was at one point boarded in Ohio. He's now in Illinois. The owners claim that he had made over $500,000 in race earnings but from the information from this link: http://www.pedigreequery.com/kentucky+trust that doesn't seem true. I'm not 100% positive that is the right horse though. But it fits the description pretty darn well. This horse wasn't exactly well kept and if we could get more information, I'd like to start getting a background check on these people. They were selling this horse for like $700 and were REALLY eager and desperate to sell him. So if anybody can get me just alittle bit of information that would be AMAZING! Please & thank you!

Answer 1

Generally, if someone is trying to be shady about selling a racehorse, they don't give you lots of information on him.  You know a lot of info about the horse, and pedigree query is like a wiki, it's updated by users not an official organization like the Jockey Club, so whatever is up there may or may not be right.  The information even says it was last updated in 2005.

Its not really hard to find info on Kentucky Trust if you pick the right words:

ww2.equineline.com/portcust/darley/cha...

TK=RD&DT=7/31/2004&RN=8&DE=D&CNTY=USA

http://www.beulahpark.com/information/fe...

Kentucky Trust Noses Out The Competition

October 3, 2004

Daniel Brafford’s Kentucky Trust outlasted three other contenders to win the featured race at Beulah Park on Sunday. Taking the lead from the start, Kentucky Trust fought with fellow front-runners Life’s Crown and Steel On Target throughout the one mile and seventy yard contest. Kentucky Trust left enough in the tank to hold off Steel On Target and late closing Malalco to the finish. The running time was 1:47.

Ridden by Perry Ouzts for trainer Michelle Brafford, Kentucky Trust returned $6.60, $3.80 and $2.80 as the second choice in the wagering. Steel On Target held on to second and paid $5.60 and $3.00. Favorite Malalco was third and had a show pay of $3.00.

Answer 2

Well, I looked up the letters (the letter, the first thing in the tattoo, stands for the year the horse was foaled) and C does mean 1999 and that would put him at 8 years old which is what you suggested.

Other than that, the only way I know to find TB tattoo info is to ask the jockey club.  here's the direct link to that page of their website: http://www.tjcis.com/otherServicesDispla...

unfortunately they want a good sum of money for the research.  I am told, however, that if you call them, they will look up a little info for you.  Perhaps if you call the jockey club and explain your situation about how you're thinking of purchasing this horse, but the sellers are rather strange, they might give you some extra information.  Here are the numbers: Toll Free: [phone]  Phone: [phone].  I'm pretty sure that if you give them the tattoo, they will at least give you the horse's real registered name, so you will be sure when you look up the pedigree whether you have the right horse.

good luck with that...  i hope my tiny bit of info helps you a little.

Edit: I did a little searching the internet for the horse and found a little... it's not really very important info...  it just says that he did race... but here it is anyway.

I found two equibase results pages from two cheap claimers the horse ran in 2003... here are the links:

http://www.a1handicapping.com/JN3/tpx030...

http://www.a1handicapping.com/JN3/hoo092...

And I found a small press release news story from a race he won at Beulah Park in 2004: http://www.beulahpark.com/information/fe...

I don't know because I've never met the people, but I think I'd be more concerned about the horse's health than his identity...  it kinda sounds to me like the horse has been lame and they're trying to get rid of it before it goes lame again.  Get him checked by the vet prior to buying!