I have an OTTB that I bought from a private buyer 3 years ago. They had purchased him from an auction. I had no identification of him until I sent the jockey club photos of him & his tattoo and they identified him. I do not know who is listed on his papers as his owner, nor do I know if there is even any way to change it. I would like to participate with him in a battle of the breeds competition but in order to do that I need my name on the registration papers. Is this even possible? I’m not even sure where to look or start. Thanks!
The transfer of ownership on the papers is not usually even accurate unless the horse is actively racing. A Bil of Sale is really your proof of ownership. You should not need papers to show - just proof of registration which the JC site provides. I would contact the Battle of the Breeds people and see what your options are - so many TBs are sold without papers, but the good thing is that they are usually easily identified. The papers themselves could be at the last track the horse raced at or with the last trainer - it’s a long shot, but you can check is race record if he is not too old and see if you can track down the trainer that way. Since the papers have to be in the office at the track that a horse is racing at, they may be there or still be in the trainers posession. If not, the trainer may be able to put you in touch with the previous owner, but again, that is a longshot.
You bought the horse at auction with no papers, so you may be stuck - heaven knows what path the horse took to get there. We see these threads all the time, and unless something changes with the way papers are handled, they are often impossible to track down. You cannot get a copy of the papers unless you get the previous owner to assist with the JC.
Good luck, but honestly, I doubt you need the papers - you just need proof of ownership and proof of registration which you can get without the papers.
The JC Does Not change or track ownership once a horse leaves racing…in fact they don’t even track it then the current track does. The Breeder and owner of the horse at Birth are all that will be printed on JC Registration Papers…and they do not change them once registred.
You would not be registered as owner. Your bill of sale is your only weapon. You can call and they will list on a contact this person type data base associated with the horses name…for purposes of contact if horse is found in jeopardy…they will flat out tell you Not as proof of ownership.
You can get PHR certificate w/ your name as owner and your horses USEF registration.
Okay, thank you for the information! I wasn’t sure if it was possible or not 
Reported the spammer talking about the state transport authority :rolleyes:
You CAN register a transfer of ownership on the JC’s website. They don’t really care if the horse isn’t racing or breeding, but you can do it. Proof of ownership of that particular JC thoroughbred is having the papers with the horse. The physical papers, not your name on them (there’s just the place ot sign when the horse is sold, the only name printed on the face is whoever originally registered the horse.) At least that’s as far as the JC is concerned. Since the horse is apparently tattooed, if you have that and a bill of sale you should be able to prove to the show entity you’re dealing with who the horse is and that you own him. One would hope they’d understand both the lost papers and that JC papers are about identifying the HORSE, not who owns it, even if you had them.
You CAN register a transfer of ownership on the JC’s website
Contact the JC they will tell you that is NOT proof of ownership your bill of sale is…I just went thru this with them on the phone…Anyone with access to the site can place their name on a horse…
Judy is absolutely correct. Having papers or having your name on the papers or being listed with TJC as the horse’s owner are NOT proof of ownership.
Usually, possession of the horse and a bill of sale are your best bet for proof of ownership.
Thank you all for the information. I will contact the coordinators and make sure what I have is enough. I have the bill of sale from when I purchased him & the letter from the JC confirming the identity of the horse after sending them photos of him & his tattoo. Knowing that is all I need will hopefully give me ground to stand on if they question it. Thank you so much!
