There are few sportsi that have been transformed as greatly as horse racing following the introduction of technology. The sport has constantly evolved following the progression made in tech, with a number of different forms now being used on a daily basis across tracks around the world.
It has been a huge factor that has helped the sport continue to progress over the last 20 years, with new fans being brought into racing. Meanwhile, technology has also had a huge impact on equine safety, and the education of aspiring jockeys within the sport.
So, what forms of technology are now adopted in horse racing?
Track Surface
An important piece of information that all fans, jockeys and trainers will need to know ahead of a huge race is how the track is running. Technology is now used to assess how the track is racing, with materials used to track the stability, traction, and safety.
Technology has had a huge significance in this sector, as new tracks have been masterminded to ensure that racing can continue in extreme weather conditions. An improved track will even influence the odds for horse racing by TwinSpires, as some of the animals are better in specific conditions.
These include the adoption of Tapeta, Polytrack, and Fibresand surfaces for racing. Technology is constantly being used to continue to assess the tracks, and more surfaces are likely to be experimented within the future. Furthermore, technology has a huge impact on track racing across the world, as forms of tech can be used to detail how traceable a surface is after heavy rainfall.
Safety
Keeping jockeys safe in horse racing is vitally important, as there are continued risks that come with riding competitively throughout the season. However, safety equipment for jockeys has come a long way throughout the modern era, as there is now more safety wear than ever before. That includes the helmets that jockeys around the world will wear, ensuring that there is a reduced risk of brain injuries should a rider fall during a race.
Meanwhile, there is further protective equipment worn by jockeys throughout the season, including body protectors that could limit injury if getting struck by a horse. Further safety equipment that tech has helped develop include saddles and stirrups, which could both save riders that tragic deaths at the hands of a horse if they fall off their mount.
Stats
All sports are now heavily stat based, as connections and teams will want to know how their stars are performing throughout the season. That is no different when it comes to horse racing, as the stats could easily outline equine stars that have medical conditions or are underperforming for one reason or another on track. However, wearable technology is now extremely common in horse racing, with the equine stars often fitted with GPS trackers, as well as heart rate monitors. The latter has a huge role to play in identifying potential issues with the stars before a fatality may occur.
The technology also has a huge impact on the thoughts of trainers, as underperforming horses may be given extra time to recover, while they may also pinpoint a surface that a runner excels over. Technology now plays a massive role in the thought process of trainers, as it can help pinpoint areas where a runner may need to improve, just as it does in other sports across the planet.
Streaming
Horse racing is a sport that is watched by millions across the globe throughout the season. Due to the advancements that have made in technology, fans can now tune in to watch huge races from all four corners, regardless of whether the race is taking place in their home country. HD streaming is available at the leading sportsbooks, while race replays are also very easy to find due to the advancements made in technology.
Replays have transformed how fans are able to watch the action, with slow-motion and overhead shots both regularly available. This means that it is easier to breakdown the action on track, with pundits and experts able to easily assess where a race could have been won or lost. High quality replays are also important for trainers, as it offers a greater insight into the performances of their runners, and where they could improve for future starts.
Drug Testing
Like most sports, horse racing is a sport where connections may look to cut corners in order to get the best possible performance from their runner. However, while drug testing has been effectively in racing throughout history, there are now greater forms of technology that can be used to help find potential doped runners.
Advanced drug testing is important for everyone involved in the sport, as it ensures that safety and fairness is kept at the highest level across the world. Testing methods have also improved thanks to the advancements made in technology, while the reliability of tests can no longer be questioned.