view raw text
OGDEN EH I PPS Vice-chairman of The Jockey Club, presided over meeting at which the governing bodys system of identification oyer the past 15 years was outlined. Study on Horse Identity For Jockey Club Members System Using Natural Marks of Chestnuts Is Proving Effective SARATOGA, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Aug. 17. At a meeting of The Jockey Club at the Saratoga race course Saturday presided over by Ogden Phipps, it was disclosed an otstanding milestone had been reached in the thoroughbred racing industrys continuing efforts toward complete security. It was announced that The Jockey Clubs system of horse identification has now reached a status comparable to the system employed in the identification of humans by fingerprinting and photograph. This significant advance was announced during the course of a lecture outlining the development over the past 15 years of The Jockey Clubs system of horse identification by natural marks. Dr. James J. Manning, Ph.D., chief physicist and chemist for. the New York City Police Laboratory, and Dr. J. G. Cat-lett, chief veterinarian for The Jockey Club on the New York tracks, collaborated in giving the lecture which was accompanied by lantern slides. Dr. Calett pointed out that Marshall Cassidy, executive secretary of The Jockey Club has directed his efforts Continued on Page FtHf Study on Horse Identity For Jockey Club Members System Using Natural Marks of Chestnuts Is Proving Effective Continued from Page One since 1937 toward establishing the identity of horses by natural marks as is done with humans, as distinguished from added artificial marks. He related that, starting in 1938 the natural marks of the horse were first recorded by a front and side photograph, upon the reverse side of which were set forth detailed markings of the horse as recorded by The Jockey Club identifiers from a personal check of the animal. As the system developed, a picture of one of the horses chestnuts, the horny growth found on the inner part of each, of the horses legs, was recorded with the front and side photograph. Study of thousands of these chestnuts led to the conclusion that no two were alike. Thereafter, the pictures of the four chestnuts were recorded. About two years ago, Dr. Manning, an expert in the field of human and animal identification, was referred to Jerry OGrady, former FBI man and chief of the Pinkertons race track operations, by a former FBI associate. It was explained how Dr. Manning proposed that he could classify the natural marks of the thoroughbred race horse in a manner analogous to that used in the classification of humans by the FBI and other police agencies. Both Dr. Manning and Dr. Catlett emphasized that after a thoroughbred was entered into The Jockey Club system, it was impossible for this animal to ever run under another name or any other horse to run in place of it. Both stated that no other horse identification system in existence today could accomplish the same security. The Jockey Club members had an opportunity to see the photographic devices developed by Dr. Manning for "this specialized program. He explained how, while the shapes and sizes of the chestnuts found on horses varied almost infinitely, for the purposes of the system they were broken down into 26 alphabetical classifications. He also outlined the manner in which the square centimeter area of each chestnut is minutely measured with the aid of an easily handled device. Dr. Manning stated that this system which was put into operation on the New York tracks this season, has proven itself to be simple and efficient in operation and at the same time inexpensive. According to his estimates, any track in the country could avail itself of the same service at a charge not exceeding 5 a day, such charge including the services of all personnel and equipment necessary in its operation. Due to the interest this new system has developed among horsemen and racing officials, another showing is planned some time within the next few weeks and probably will take place also at Saratoga.
