| Wednesday, January 23, 2002 | Contact: Bob Curran Jr. (212) 521-5326 |
| Jockey Club Interactive Yielding Record Name Approval Rates | |
Thoroughbred owners and breeders using The Jockey Club’s Internet registry program Jockey Club InteractiveTM (JCI) to name their horses saw a record number of first choices for horse names approved during 2001, according to year-end statistics released today. Of 13,795 horses where the first attempt to name the horse was made using a Jockey Club InteractiveTM account, 10,594 - or 77 percent -- received the first choice of their respective owner or breeder. “With our continuously updated online names book and the ever-increasing use of the Internet and Jockey Club Interactive to complete virtually all registration requirements, that approval rate for first name choices should continue to grow,” explained Gary L. Carpenter, The Jockey Club’s executive vice president and executive director. “Online registration is much quicker and easier for owners and breeders and more and more of them are realizing that.” Carpenter said that more than 13,000 people have established free Jockey Club Interactive accounts. Name claim “forms” submitted through Jockey Club InteractiveTM in 2001 grew to 18,851, or 58 percent of all name claim forms for the year. This was up from 15,769 in calendar year 2000 when 52 percent of all name claims were made through the interactive registration process. Jockey Club InteractiveTM was unveiled in August, 1996 at The Jockey Club Round Table Conference in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and then launched in May, 1997. By May of 1999, 50,000 forms had been submitted using JCI. In the fall of 2000, JCI added the ability to nominate foals to the Breeders’ Cup program while simultaneously completing Live Foal Reports and Registration Applications. Last February, JCI added a digital photo enhancement and the Registry now has digital photos on file for more than 3,300 Thoroughbreds. “The use of digital photography certainly expedites the registration process,” said Carpenter. “We’re getting better photographs and we’re getting them quicker so we can complete the registration process in a more timely manner. Digital photos are also easier for everyone to file, store and retrieve.” Owners and breeders are also reminded that a valid attempt to name foals of 2000 must be made by February 1, 2002, to avoid a $50 late fee. Owners and breeders can access the online names book and/or register for the free Jockey Club InteractiveTM by visiting The Jockey Club’s web site at http://home.jockeyclub.com. | |