How to Register a Thoroughbred Foal: Thirteen’s Registration Kit Arrived from The Jockey Club
Exciting progress in Thirteen’s journey—his official registration kit from The Jockey Club arrived at Horse Husband Stables this week! This gives us a great opportunity to walk Foal Circle members through the full registration process for a Thoroughbred, using Thirteen as our example.
🐎 How Thoroughbred Registration Works
To officially register a Thoroughbred foal with The Jockey Club, a series of steps must be completed by both the stallion owner and the breeder (in this case, Horse Husband Stables). Here’s how the process unfolds:
✅ Step 1: Stallion Owner Files a Report of Mares Bred (RMB)
Each year, the stallion owner or lessee is required to file a Report of Mares Bred (RMB) with The Jockey Club by August 1. This report lists every mare the stallion was bred to, along with her last cover date. Once the RMB and associated fees are submitted, The Jockey Club issues three Service Certificates for each reported mare.
Key Point:
These Service Certificates are required to complete foal registration. Most modern breeders handle this electronically, and the stallion owner can release the certificate online—but they don’t do that automatically.
📌 What triggers release?
The stallion owner typically releases the Service Certificate once the mare owner has met the terms of the breeding contract. This may include full payment, a live foal guarantee, or other agreed-upon conditions. Until the certificate is released, the foal cannot be registered.
In Thirteen’s case, Tale of Silence’s connections released the Service Certificate after Surprise’s previous owner fulfilled their obligation by paying the stud fee as part of the sale agreement at Keeneland. This allowed the registration process to move forward.
🍼 Step 2: Submit a Live Foal Report
Within 30 days of foaling, the breeder submits a Live Foal Report to The Jockey Club, including the foal’s date of birth, sex, and location. This report also locks in the name and contact information for the official breeder of record and triggers the next stage in the registration process.
📬 Step 3: Receive the Registration Kit
Once the Live Foal Report is received and processed (usually within 3–4 months), The Jockey Club mails a registration packet, which includes:
A pre-filled Registration Application
A hair sample envelope for DNA testing
A microchip (standard DataMars ISO-compliant chip)
Instructions for completing the registration
💡 At HHS:
Horse Husband Stables uses Bio-Thermo® microchips with built-in temperature sensors. These upgraded chips are fully compliant and can be used in place of the default chip provided.
✂️ Step 4: Microchipping & DNA Typing
The foal must be microchipped and have a hair sample pulled from the mane or tail to confirm parentage. That DNA sample is sent to The Jockey Club’s lab for genetic verification.
📌 Why this matters:
DNA typing ensures the foal is actually the result of the reported stallion and mare pairing. It’s essential for maintaining the integrity of the Thoroughbred registry.
📷 Step 5: Submit Markings and Photographs
Breeders must document the foal’s identifying features, including:
Coat color
White markings
Exact placement of cowlicks (hair whorls)
Four color photographs are also required—from the front, back, and both sides. Gray foals and those with no white markings also need close-ups of their heads and night-eyes.
At HHS, the team uses The Jockey Club Registration App to quickly snap and upload photos, then submit the full application digitally.
💰 Step 6: Final Submission & Review
To complete the registration, breeders must submit:
The completed Registration Application
Microchip number
DNA sample (already sent)
Four photos
Service Certificate (electronically released)
Payment for the registration fee
Once everything is verified, The Jockey Club issues a Digital Certificate of Foal Registration, usually within four weeks.
🧠 Naming Update: Round 2 Ends Tonight!
Thirteen’s registration is nearly complete—but he still needs a name! The Foal Circle naming contest is already underway, and Round 2 closes tonight (March 31). Finalists will be announced soon, and members will vote on the winner.
Thank you to everyone who has submitted a name—it’s been so fun watching the creativity and connections emerge from the community!
👉 If you haven’t voted yet, make sure your voice is heard before the deadline!
