The papers on my first TB were lost at one point , the cost for duplicates was pretty steep, so he was sold to me without papers.
I never bothered trying to get his papers because of the expense, and of course he was a gelding!
I agree this probably puts to much of a burden on the people wrong people.
Most of the horse trainers I know are not the best bookkeepers, and this looks like it could penalize a lot of people who don’t deserve it.
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Not that sending the papers is physically hard but how in hades is some individual, partnership or LLC listed as owner at the time of foaling in Ky 7 years ago supposed to even know if the horse, after selling several times and retiring from the track, ends up in Utah or Mississippi? And how is that buyer automatically to know they have to deal with paperwork required by NY state? Do the well meaning folks behind this assume every other state, including those without pari mutual tracks and racing commissions are going to jump into this?
Any real solution probably has to originate with the JC and don’t know they, or any other breed registry or stud book, want to create another department even if all states require microchip info on all horses sold in that state be sent somewhere to be sorted and sent to the various breed people who add the info to each horses record.
And don’t think that would stop anybody from buying an OTTB, they’ll just ignore it. It’s not like there’s any state laws against not registering your pet or livestock. Not going to get flagged down by a govt enforcer riding your personal horse and asked for proof you properly transferred ownership with some central database. Most just aren’t going to pay any attention to it or just won’t even have a clue it exsist.
Starting this year all TB foals have to be microchipped.
I received my microchips in my JC registration packets.
The numbers are on file now with the JC and my vet’s office, so I wonder if this is even necessary, why couldn’t all horses currently racing also receive microchips ?
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If a rescue finds a tb at an auction, they will check the tatoo and look the horse up and contact the stewards at the track where the horse regularly raced or was stabled, and the stewards will contact the trainer of record. It’s really hard trying to find a “good” home for some of these horses. It’s not uncommon for new owners to be unable to deal with the green ottb and they give up, give the horse away without doing due diligence, and it ends up at an auction.
The microchips are going to help but you need to make the tracking process EASY and AUTOMATIC and you cannot put penalties on those who are trying to find a second career for the horse. The AQHA sends you prizes for reaching riding hour milestones - nothing earth shattering but it’s fun and easy; the Jockey Club could do something similar with riding hours, competition results, etc. Even if you stay local and low level, you can still get points and free stuff.
But you’re assuming all of these horses off the track are going to second career locations, and how much work it would be for them. And there are plenty of horses that don’t get that chance. Or if they do, as you said, they can often go to auction. And you’re claiming a $500 fine no questions.
It’s “up to $500”, and only for NY State residents. As mentioned on the link for the horses who ran from 2010-2012, in their list of 3800, NYRA could only locate 1800! I wouldn’t think the 2nd career organizations, or individuals who do this responsibly would find it a problem, knowing what can happen. They’re not the ones the law applies to. It’s the ones who try to dump horses.
I think it’s the least one can do, right now it’s only NY State, and it is a huge problem even with NYRA’s requirements for reporting. And it’s been horsemen promoting this. It’s a way to try to fill that gap between track and questionable buyer, and/or 2nd career placement and the chain of owners down the line where the horse will slip through their fingers years after having left the track.
Considering the number of people who haven’t a clue about feeding, handling, or responding to a TB’s needs, I see the 2nd as the real problem. I’m not sure you’re familiar with the regular idealists from the city, who can sell their homes for a king’s ransom, that allows them to move up here, buy a farm and a load of horses, and then realize they have no idea. And then they dump them. With my limited connections I know of 4 different instances, 2 of which involved a large number of horses. And know of one stakes winner from the partnership I was formerly part of, who eventually sold for meat because the well meaning group of nice gals who bought him were duped.
The 2nd career awards and shows are great, but I doubt they touch 1/4 of the horses who leave the track.
The bill has a good purpose, and it’s about time. And for now, only in NY, if it passes.
And considering the responsible breeders and previous racing owners who would step up to the plate, if they knew where the horse was, this would help as well. There may not be that many, but they are out there.
Mandatory microchipping is going to be a game changer, no doubt. But still think it’s an uphill battle fueled by overproduction. I doubt it will be embraced by big, conservative breeding states that do a lot of winking in favor of the industry.
