Okay new OTTB!! (yay!) Previous owners say he is a 7-10 year old gelding, but I have looked and tried different combinations of what the tattoo might be and no luck. Sooo, I am calling on you guys to help out a fellow COTHer please 
I made an album just for him it has body face and markings pictures. It’s here: http://s831.photobucket.com/user/Ethyloctane7/library/OTTB
Wow. Good luck with that. I can’t even see a number. Can you give more info such as what state you are in – or I should say, what state he lived in when you bought him, where he raced last and when?
Southern California. I thought the first one looked like a plus sign instead of a letter. I know imports use a * but that’s not what this looks like to me. The 3 number looks like a 5. I am almost positive of that. Racing history is unknown got him at a shady rescue. They said his name was traveler, but I’m sure that isn’t even close to his JC name.
Yeesh. I see a 5, but that’s all I can make out. Can’t figure out what is to the left of the 5. It looks almost like a W, but it should be further over if that is the letter.
In the pic just above the one of the left fore, if the S looking one is the 5, it looks to me like 9 next to it.
Well, it’s a long shot, but…does this sound like him? Squinting at the photos I can’t say but I assumed the people seeing a 5 and 9 were right and just kept trying years that would be the right age…
Left fore: few white hairs on coronet; heel irregularly white; dark spot on inside heel. Right hind: heel white, higher on inside. Few white hairs in coat. Double horizontal cowlick at top of eye level.
Tattoo is I05903, horse is a bay gelding named Ginobili, foaled in California in 2005. His last start was at Hollywood Park in December 2008. He finished fourth (ridden by Chantal Sutherland) and the chart notes indicate he ‘lacked a needed late response, then did not return to be unsaddled and was vanned off.’ Last owner of record was Stein Stables Inc and the last trainer was Roger Stein.
Looks like ??95?? or possibly ??45?? but that’s all I can make out. I tried those options with all letters from 2000 on and got a few that seemed close, but the markings weren’t quite right. Even tried ??75?? just for kicks.
Well… I contacted the rescue that rescued Ginobili. And that horse is at a farm… So back to square one. I am going to try and get clearer pictures in the morning I’ll post them if anyone else wants to look. So frustrating. I just want to figure out this horse’s name! Lol.
Linz, Wondering if you happened to submit the tatt and pix to the Jockey Club Research team?
You might also consider wiping the saliva off the lip with a paper towel, using a black light, and taking a few more pics. Beginning & end characters are sometimes seen clearer if you take them from a different angle (more to the side). You can also try playing with photo filters&contrast & see if that helps.
You can also ask for help from the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau. They have great expertise with hard to read tattoos. TRPB techs apply the tattoos and they maintain a photographic copy of each. Research is free. http://www.trpb.com/tatobrnd.htm
"they maintain a photographic copy of each. "
Do they really? Now, that is really cool as you could even see if a certain onelooks like his lip. Do (under)lips maintain the same color/mottled throughout a horses life?
Yes, as soon as they finish the tattoo, they snap a photograph to be used by the horse identifier in the paddock in the event the tattoo is difficult to read prerace.
The tattoo people are employed by the TRPB and can cover a large territory. Here is the Midwest the tattoo person used to cover 5 states although the cost of fuel might have caused that to change. Looking at the teeth would give them an estimated age for the horse. Using CA as a starting point, they would know who might have applied the tattoo. Many of the tatt people work the same territory for years and are adept at recognizing the get of local stallions when the see a pic; which hopefully might narrow down the possible matches.
Re the mottling, I’m not certain it changes so dramatically.
I am not very good at this, but in picture #3 I think I see a three a bit to the left of the middle (?)
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