Accuracy of JC gelding reports

[K_2]

Recently someone on Facebook posted an older thoroughbred stallion for sale, and me being curious looked the horse up. The Jockey Club lists him as a gelding, Equibase has the horse listed as a gelding, but the seller observes that the horse has visible testicles! 😂

Looking at the horse’s race record, there is clearly a period that he ran as a colt, and a period after that he was listed as a gelding. Seller says tattoo and paperwork matches, and as I’m not at all invested beyond curiosity, I can’t help but take that as the truth.

So my question is, does this sort of thing actually happen? I would imagine as this information is important to the betting public, the powers that be (Jockey Club, Race Stewards) would not be too happy about someone misreporting a gelding.

[Willesdon]

I suspect that the JC is considerably more professional, knowledgeable and reliable than an individual on Facebook.

[K_2]

@Willesdon

I suspect that the JC is considerably more professional, knowledgeable and reliable than an individual on Facebook.

These are my thoughts as well 😜

[mroades]

A friend bought what was supposed to be a tb gelding from one of the bigger name rescue/rehome places, and he was a double cryptorchid

[Willesdon]

A rescue tends to be run by

[NancyM]

I know someone who was shopping for a stallion prospect. They claimed one that they felt had the potential they were looking for, and claimed him at a track that was NOT local to them. Had a friend make the claim. It took a while to get the horse home, but the papers arrived before the horse did. The papers said “gelding”. They freaked out!!! When the horse arrived, THAT was the first thing they checked. And sure enough, the nuts were still intact. He proved to be a successful stallion locally.

[findeight]

If they aren’t on the track, JC or any of their representatives, never check the horses physical appearance or status against what they have on record,

Maybe the horse here was reported to JC as gelded, which they recorded. That’s the end of their responsibility unless the horse races again or a breeding report and/or foal registration application is submitted.

[K_2]

@NancyM

I know someone who was shopping for a stallion prospect. They claimed one that they felt had the potential they were looking for, and claimed him at a track that was NOT local to them. Had a friend make the claim. It took a while to get the horse home, but the papers arrived before the horse did. The papers said “gelding”. They freaked out!!! When the horse arrived, THAT was the first thing they checked. And sure enough, the nuts were still intact. He proved to be a successful stallion locally.

So it is definitely a possibility! I would wonder in your case if a report was made to the JC in addition to the stamp on his papers?

[K_2]

@findeight

If they aren’t on the track, JC or any of their representatives, never check the horses physical appearance or status against what they have on record,

Maybe the horse here was reported to JC as gelded, which they recorded. That’s the end of their responsibility unless the horse races again or a breeding report and/or foal registration application is submitted.

In the case of the Facebook stallion - his race record shows a win where he is listed as a horse, and a subsequent win where he is then listed as a gelding, so it was obviously reported during his racing career.

[Jealoushe]

@Willesdon

I suspect that the JC is considerably more professional, knowledgeable and reliable than an individual on Facebook.

Especially this specific individual :lol:

[Pronzini]

In certain jurisdictions, first time gelding is considered a betting angle and trainers face a whopping $1000 fine if you run and don’t report it. So chances are excellent that a gelding which happens at the track will be accurately reported.

That said, I know of a horse that was a double cryptorchid and he ran as a gelding because the trainer assumed he was. They discovered it when then testing came back and his testosterone was out of range. Now he runs as a ridgling. But that is hardly the norm.

[NancyM]

@K~2

So it is definitely a possibility! I would wonder in your case if a report was made to the JC in addition to the stamp on his papers?

I have no idea. I also do not know if he was racing and winning as a “gelding”, or for how long it was on his papers. He has some age on him, like a 7 yr old or so when he was claimed. I suspect that he acted like a kind and easy to manage gelding, his offspring were classically very laid back, sensible and easy to manage horses, and very honest. Perhaps someone, at some point, simply presumed he was gelded without checking closely??? But SOMEONE knew he was actually a stallion, and relayed this information to the people who claimed him, I guess.