There have been few sports throughout recent history that have been transformed quicker due to the implementation of technology than horse racing. The sport now leans on technological advances to help ensure the safety of horses in training, both when it comes to pre-race and post-race care.
As well as that, the sport also leans on technology when it comes to helping extend the knowledge of newcomers into the sport, especially those that are looking to become professional jockeys. But, what gadgets and pieces of technology are now used regularly within horse racing to improve the sector?
Performance Tracking Technology
One of the most crucial forms of technology that is now used in the Kentucky Derby prep races on horse racing, according to TwinSpires, comes in the form of wearable tech, which enables trainers to track the performances of their runners.
This ensures that trainers are able to monitor the heart rate of their runners, as well as assessing the heat that the horse could be contending with. Performance track tech is essentially important within the sport in this modern day, as it is the quickest way to determine whether there are any lingering issues with the horse that can’t be picked up from just watching a horse run.
It is a proven tech that enables trainers to detect any early sign of distress, while the stats picked up will also enable trainers to see if there are any shortcomings in a horse’s performance on track. As well as enabling a better understanding of all the horses underlying health conditions, this piece of technology is also proven to have a significant impact on their overall well-being.
Video Analysis
Horse racing has come a long way since its early beginnings, with all connections now able to reassess their performances after the racing due to video analysis. Most of the horses in action across the world will wear cameras, which enables trainers and jockeys to gain a better understanding of how to get the best out of a star should they have underperformed on track.
This gained experience can also help jockeys to take them to the next level, as they can quickly learn from their mistakes and pick up points and areas where they can improve. The technology on offer in this modern day means that videos can be frozen frame-by-frame, which will enable greater education for jockeys, as trainers can pinpoint little things that are done that could contribute to a race being lost.
Video analysis is also very helpful for trainers that are looking to assess why one of their horses underperformed in a race. Watching races back can help spot anomalies with the horse’s movements on track, and could pinpoint certain tactics that could enhance their chances of claiming victory moving forward.
Virtual Reality
One of the most popular pieces of technology that is being used at horse racing yards across the world in this modern day is virtual reality. This piece of tech has been incredibly popular for educational reasons, with aspiring or inexperienced jockeys able to use this technology to ride in competitive races from a virtual standpoint.
One of the biggest reasons behind why it is used at the top of the sport is down to the fact that it enables potential jockeys to understand the in-race tactics that can be followed to give their mount the best chance of claiming victory. It is also an encouraged piece of technology among governing bodies, as it ensures that all potential riders will be aware of what they are allowed to do when competing.
This therefore decreases the risk of jockeys being handed potential fines or bans in the long-term. Virtual reality is all about expanding the knowledge of jockeys within the sport, and it has been adapted to the sport with great success over the last couple of years.
Helping Welfare Within The Sport
Technology also plays a key role in ensuring the long-term future of the sport by maintaining that horse welfare is at the forefront of changes made within the game. This is typically down to configuration of tracks, as technology can aid designers when it comes to ensuring that fatality rates will be at the lowest possible.
Technology has been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to making changes to track layouts and race routes throughout recent year, with the biggest example of that coming with regards to the Grand National. This year’s race will feature fewer runners, while the first fence has been brought closer to the start to ensure that there is less chance of a fatal fall early in the race.
As well as aiding with designs of tracks, technology is also very helpful when it comes to ensuring that runners aren’t frequently competing on an unsafe schedule. Therefore, in this modern era, we rarely see the best horses in training race on more than one occasion per month.
