Good Morning,
I hope you had a great weekend! The MARCH MADNESS games are now entering the FINAL 4! Congratulations to our local team, the KENTUCKY WILDCATS, for all of their success to this point in the tournament! This town is so excited. Also, so many interesting races took place over the weekend. Wow! There is so much going on in sports. I absolutely love it!
Since it is the foaling season and lots of new baby horses are being born, I wanted to share with you how the data for the birth is officially recorded for a horse. This is done through the JOCKEY CLUB PAPERS. MINE are in the photo above for you to see! Literally, one’s Jockey Club papers are the true official document that follows a race horse throughout its life. They are extremely important…much like a Birth Certificate for a human.
When a foal is a few months old, the farm where it is born does the required ‘technical work’ to apply for the papers. Blood tests are completed on the baby to officially validate the parentage of the foal. This information is noted and qualified in the upper right hand corner…PARENTAGE QUALIFIED. Then the foal’s family is “duly registered with the Jockey Club’ as noted in the first section of the papers. As you can see on mine, I was born on April 1, 2004. I am identified as a Dark Bay or Brown Filly BY Street Cry (Ire)…my dad was born in Ireland…OUT OF Vertigineux who is by KRIS S. This means that my Mom’s sire was Kris S.
There is a place left blank on the top line where the horse’s name will be placed once the owner decides upon it. Until then, the foal is technically referred to by the year of birth and MOM’S name. As a mare only has one foal per year, this is a very clear way of keeping track of this particular horse. For me, I was known as ’04 Vertigineux. There is also a certificate number at the top of the page…which further identifies the data for this foal.
In the mid portion of the papers are the specific notations pertaining to the horse’s markings. An individual who is skilled and certified in HORSE IDENTIFCATION goes to the farm and examines the foal for all notable markings. Photos are also taken to support the details and illustrate the foal’s appearance. The complete description is then detailed on the Jockey Club Papers. This is very, very important. Horse ID people work at all racetracks and these notations are used to be sure the right horse is always being referenced for all purposes as sales and future races.
On the bottom, the owner of record at the time the papers are issued is listed, as well as the breeder and the particular state where a foal is born. As you can see on my papers, they were originally issued to Maverick Productions…who was also my breeder. I was born in KENTUCKY.
There is a portion on the back of the Jockey Club Papers to record any changes in ownership from this point forward in the horse’s life. This is also very important.
Once a horse arrives at the racetrack, the papers are turned into the Racing Office and held there by the track officials. The trainer’s name is listed in the top right hand corner. MINE say SHIRREFFS. A horse also receives a tattoo number and this is noted on the papers as well. When a horse is entered to run in a race, the Jockey Club Papers are pulled from the files and all of this information on them is used for the Racing Form, Programs, and the Horse ID people.
This is something CUTE to note on my papers. On the left hand side of them, you see the number 703 written in pencil. This is from the time when I was in the Keeneland Sale. Owners/breeders are required to turn the JC Papers into the sales company early for several purposes. The HIP NUMBER of the horse for that sale is penciled in at the top of the papers. I WAS HIP # 703. After the Moss’ purchased me from this sale, their name was listed on the back of my papers and they officially became my NEW OWNERS.
Once they named ME…ZENYATTA…the front side of my JOCKEY CLUB PAPERS were complete!
Lucky ME!
Here’s to a great Monday and a fabulous week!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Kitei
You brighten my Monday1
Kitei
Oops – shift! “1” should be “!”
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
All these years following racing and this is the first time I ever seen a Jockey Club birth certificate & had it explained. Thanks to you for giving me another first. Congrats to your “Wildcats”. My brackets have totally tanked!! Happy Monday Zenny, with lots of bananas & X -O -X -O
Judy Maass Gadwood Loves Zenny
I love your “birth certificate”!!! Did they also register on your papers “GORGEOUS” and “QUEEN TO BE” :-)
I love to hear from you, Zenny, because I miss that half hour drive to visit you at Barn 55 :-(
HUGS & KISSES XOXO
Patricia Emery
Sorry for the repeat post from #211…
any thoughts on “Mr.Commons” & Bernie’s boy…”Stay Thirsty!”
just love you more and more each day…from one mother to another, you have ALL of the qualities to be the BEST!
Sending lots of love & just really appreciate the creativity and thoughtfulness put into each post…it is amazing what you get when it comes from the heart…thanks Dottie & Team Z!
Are you going to eat Carrot Cake with Peppermint frosting for your birthday?
Hum…not so sure of that combination!
XOXO
Cheryl
Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekand and are doing well. Take care pretty girl, we love you!
SuZanne
Good Morning from Colorado, your highness!
Becky F in MD
You are “Too Cute!” Thanks for teaching us so much! Hope you have a great day! Do they still let you have your Guinness or did you have to give it up while you are pregnant?
Judy Maass Gadwood Loves Zenny
p.s. You may have been born in Kentucky but you sure became a California Girly Girl XO
Ann Maree
Hi, big girl,
Your little half-sister now has her own Facebook page! Yippeee! BTW, Happy early Birthday this Friday!!!! Hugs! Your friend, Ann Maree
Suzanne
What is the red stamp down below…it looks a little like the shape of Florida…?!
Edie Dickenson
Lucky US to hear from you, Zenny!
Suzanne
Oh! I just realized it must be California! lol
Kathy Baldwin
Thank you Zenny and all your “Connections”
for schooling us in the world of horse
racing! Very interesting!
Continued blessings to all of you,
Kathy from SoCal :)
Pattie
I’m learning so many new things about racing that I had never even thought about! I appreciate the education we are receiving from Dottie & Zenyatta and the photos from John. Thank You :)
Ollie
I learn something new everytime I read
these daily updates. It makes my day
knowning more and more about you.
Lots of love alwaysXOXOXOXO.
Ann Maree
Z, what did the letters “HIP” stand for? Your friend, Ann Maree
Brenda
Love the info. I didn’t know that horses got tatooes. Keep us to date with any weird cravings that you get. Enjoy your Monday Ms Z …
Suzanne
You can tell I’m a “right-coaster”! Thanks so much for this unique insight…love & hugs to you & yours, Z.
EAH
Happy early B-day! I’m hoping my new foal will get to share a Bday with you this year. One correction – the DNA tests for the foal papers aren’t really “blood tests” any more. Just as human genetic tests have changed from blood tests, foal tests are now done by DNA. A sample of hairs are pulled from the mane, and the test is done on the roots of the hairs.
Carole J
You are such a smart one as well as gorgeous!! I do have one Question… why is there an outline of the state of California on the Paper and not Kentucky, where you were born?? I’m assuming it signifies something? Thanks and enjoy the Final Four games… I have to cheer for UConn, my birthstate!! Hugs to you, too….
Megan
Very interesting Z.Learn something new everyday.Nice to see your birth certificate.I see the Jockey Club is very thorough in what they do.Hugs to you to.xx
Margaret
I was wondering over the weekend if you’ve ever had strawberries???
My favorite Queen. I also thought that your foal could have the name of Princess or Prince Dance. That would be in honor of your dancing moves on race days.
Patti in Carlsbad
WOW!!! THANK YOU, ZENYATTA, FOR EDUCATING US AS TO WHAT THE JOCKEY CLUB PAPERS LOOK LIKE AS WELL AS WHAT IS INCLUDED ON THEM. I AM LEARNING SO MUCH. THE INFORMATION YOU ARE GIVING US IS NOT ONLY INSTRUCTIVE, IT IS TRULY INTERESTING. AWESOME JOB!
HAVE YOU BEEN RECEIVING TONS OF POST CARDS FOR YOUR CONTEST? I HOPE SO. I THINK THIS INTERACTION WITH YOUR MANY FANS IS SO SPECIAL…AS ARE YOU.
J Smith
Lucky Lucky Zenyatta. Lucky you indeed, to have been blessed with such wonderful owners who surrounded you with an equally wonderful team. But even luckier us, who have been able to share in your life and have our days brightened by the goodness, courage, and determination, that is you.
Sheri
Wow that is so cool! Thanks for the info! I love learning new things from your diary! Buy the way, how do you prnounce you mother’s name? I haven’t heard it before or if I have I forgot! haha! Love you Zenny!! :D
Jena Hobert
Zenyatta are they still pulling blood for parentage verification? I would have thought they were doing DNA now instead of blood typing. I use to hate pulling blood on my babies for that. But I did prepare the babies for it so they stood for the vet. They were always very good. But when you 15 babies it makes for a long day.I hope all your gal pals are well and that Lifeand her baby are having a goodtime. Tell Dottie Thank You for us. Secsea Dancer, Salawgi, Simon and Picasso.
Mary Margaret fm Georgia
Thanks Zenyatta for showing us your Jockey Club Papers with all the explanations. Your information is, as always, so very interesting. I’m only familiar with Tennessee Walking Horse papers. Even though I have followed the races for decades, I’ve never had an opportunity, like this, to learn so much about Thoroughbreds. My first exposure, as a 13yr. old, was following Northern Dancer, the first horse to turn me into a horse-crazy girl. I still have newspaper clippings from way back when. Still today, when I watch Secretariat I get goosebumps. I am so thankful you and Rachel arrived in my lifetime. You are the epitome of grace and elegance.
I wish you a blessed and fantastic birthday. I will have a piece of carrot cake on Friday, in your honor. I love you Zenyatta. Go team—you are the greatest.
Lauren
Dear Zenny, a/k/a ’04 Vertigineaux and Baby Z – Thank you for sharing this information with us. I love your birth certificate. It is so interesting to learn about all of the aspects of horse breeding. Just think one day you will have a foal known as ’12 Zenyatta – how cute!!! Are you getting ready for your birthday? Hope you have a great day. Love you beautiful girl.
Victoria
I just love reading your diary posts, Zenny! Hopefully your future babies will be just as beautiful and as talented as you are! Love from Canada!