Description
Verify and confirm the identity of horses entered in races or competitions. Check microchips, tattoos, brands, and registration documents to ensure compliance with rules, and report irregularities. Coordinate with stewards, veterinarians, and paddock officials to protect event integrity and safety.
- • Verify required health tests or documents (e.g., Coggins) are present when regulations assign that duty.
- • Conduct pre-race identification of each horse using microchip scanners, lip tattoos, brands, and physical markings.
- • Compare markings, age, sex, color, and scars to registration certificates and official records.
- • Determine eligibility to start based on identity and documentation; recommend scratches or penalties for noncompliance.
- • Alert stewards, veterinarians, security, and paddock officials to identification discrepancies or rule infractions.
- • Verify program numbers, saddle cloths, and entry information match official records.
- • Log identification results and time of verification for each race.
- • Initiate and manage the identification queue to meet paddock and post-time schedules.
- • Resolve identification disputes with trainers or owners in accordance with regulations, escalating when needed.
- • Direct horses and handlers to assigned paddock stalls, detention areas, or sampling locations after verification.
- • Report identity issues, refusals, and actions taken to stewards and the racing commission.
- • Coordinate with the racing office on late changes, scratches, and corrections to ownership or naming records.
- • Educate trainers, grooms, and owners on identification procedures, documentation, and requirements.
- • Review entries and historical issues to anticipate problem horses and prepare appropriate equipment and records.
- • Maintain and secure identification equipment, such as scanners, lights, and reference materials.
- • Inspect the identification area and horse flow for safety, security, and compliance with track policies.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
