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USTA AdoptsChestnut System Of Harness Horse Identification COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 17.— The U. S. Trotting Association yesterday announced adoption of a fool-proof system of identifying harness horses racing at 518 tracks under USTA jurisdiction. The trotting association will embark this week on a program that will result in the "chestunts" or "night eyes" of every harness horse in the country being photographed. The "chestnuts" are horny growths located on the inside of each leg and are as effective as fingerprints in providing positive identification: No two are ever alike. The photographic records will be filed at the associations national headquarters here and duplicates will be made available to member tracks. * In addition to photographing the "chestnuts," USTA teams also will take front and side views of every horse and will note for the permanent record distinguishing characteristics such as scars, blemishes, imperfections of conformation, etc. The USTA adopted the "chestnut" method after lengthy study of a number of identification systems employed by other racing groups. Adoption of the new system will protect the public by rendering it impossible for a horse to be "ringed" once his "fingerprints" are on file with the USTA.
