California to try microchips

PLEASANTON, Calif. – California plans to test the use of microchips in identifying thoroughbred racehorses in the state.

It would cost $40-$50 per horse to implant the rice-sized chip into a neck ligament in a 5-minute procedure by a veterinarian, said Dan Fick of the Jockey Club.

The chips contain a seven-digit facility location number and a 15-digit ID for each horse, and can also indicate a horse’s temperature.

The devices that read the IDs should cost $200-$400 each.

The chips also can be used to verify the identities of horses during workouts.

The California Horse Racing Board on Thursday instructed its staff to develop a pilot program to test use of the chips.