Thoroughbred Lip Tattoo Info

Own a Thoroughbred with a lip tattoo? Read this…

The Jockey Club Registry, www.registry.jockeyclub.com , offers a free tattoo lookup and research service to help owners identify their thoroughbred horses using the tattoo located on the horse’s upper lip. Tattoo Lookup (for completely legible tattoos) and Tattoo Research (based on markings and the partial tattoo) are free and available to all Interactive Registration customers. Press Control and Click simultaneously on the link below to sign up for “Interactive Registration.”

https://www.registry.jockeyclub.com/registry.cfm?page=dotRegistryHelpDeskTattoo&CFID=22469273&CFTOKEN=93619386

Tips for Reading Lip Tattoos
A Thoroughbred tattoo is a letter followed by four or five numbers. The letter represents the year of foaling (see chart). Note: In tattoos that contain five numbers after the letter, the first number will be from zero to five.

The only exception to the letter is a foreign-born horse that was imported into North America. It will have an asterisk (*) in front of its tattoo.
• Use a cloth to blot the lip to reduce shine and massage the area.
• Take the horse into a dim area and shine a flashlight, blacklight, or colored LED light on the tattoo from below the lip, then try the light at different angles.

• Take a digital picture of the tattoo and enhance the contrast. Note: Do not use a flash and take the picture on an overcast day or out of direct sunlight.
Codes for Tattoos of Thoroughbreds