Where can I find out information about my ex-racehorses past, for free?

Question

I have an ex-racehorse (thoroughbred), well actually I don't even know if he raced! He has a tattoo#. I want to know how old he is as his past oqners said he was about 7 and the vet said he was in his late teens...BIG difference. Does anyone know where I can find this information?...for free?

Answer 1

If he has a tattoo, he has been on the track and preparing to race, usu. they are not tattooed until they are nearing to actually run. So, you can call the jockey club give them the # of the tattoo and find out much about the horse. His breeder, his bloodline, who owned if he did win a race it would be in there.

The main reason their papers  do not stay with them is that the owner or the trainer does not want to see them back at the track. and without the papers it is almost a sure bet, since it is hard, not impossible to receive a new set of racing papers. I am fairly sure it is free to at least find out his age if you call or go on line. It used to be, but it has been a while since I've tried.

Oh, their teeth tell a lot but it is very general, you will only ever get guesstamations from them. But I can tell you this a 7 yr. olds teeth look a lot different from a horse in his late teens.

Why don't you have a little fun, and sell 35 tickets for 2 dollars and each person gets to look at his teeth and guess his age, take the money find out his true age and give the extra 35 to the winner. Horse people should really enjoy this type of test of their skills, and it will break the myth of looking at their teeth to guess their age. This is how the saying came about "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth".

http://www.tjcis.com/otherServicesDispla...

seems their is a 35 dollar charge.

without knowing his registered racing name, I'm afraid the options slim. I would try to call them and explain that you just want to find his age, maybe someone can help.

Good answer JefferyJ, I knew that there were codes in the tatt's, but never asked or cared what it all meant, and I spent over half of my life around those critters.  Glad you were around. Oh and you got my thumbs up vote.

Answer 2

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/ is free. if you know his racing name you can get a little bit of his background and his age. Equibase isn't free but i know you can use his tatoo to find him there. I found alot about my horse that way, and If he raced and was a winner you might even be able to find photos of him on equibase.

Answer 3

The tattoo will begin with a letter, that letter is a code for his foaling year, from there you can figure out is age exactly. With the tattoo number you can get his registered name from the Jockey Club (try going through the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, they may help you for free).  Once you have his name you can get all the info you want from EquiBase.

Answer 4

Nothing is for free!  Call the jockey club and give them the tattoo number and they will tell you what it is you want to know about your horse for a fee of course.  If you can read the letter that will tell you the year he was born.  Follow the link provided for you

Answer 5

I don't know except to google it. But, I would trust the vet. They know by their teeth. A race horse should have registration papers. Why did the owners not give them to you. Someone had to tattoo him and someone should know how to trace the tat. Maybe the thoroughbred associatin