Horse racing remains one of the most followed sports in the world, with millions passing through the gates at some of the iconic tracks across the globe to witness some of the biggest races on the schedule.
Betting on these events are incredibly popular after claiming a waging bonus and the long-term success of the sport looks secure due to the growing number of ways that the sector is able to improve horse welfare. Check it out here: https://www.twinspires.com/200-signup/
Welfare of the equine stars involved in the sport has been of paramount importance throughout history, but the growth in technology means that there are more ways than ever to ensure that runners are able to maintain their best levels of fitness, while also being able to assess any niggling issues that may not be seen by the naked eye. But, what are some of the key innovations that have been made to ensure welfare within the sport is as good as it has ever been?
Horse Sensors
One of the most important advancements that have been made in the sport throughout the modern era is the inclusion of sensors on horses. This is an essential tool for trainers, especially when it comes to monitoring performances levels.
Sensors are able to quickly feed back essential information to those connected with the horse when it comes to the heart rate of the runner, and the temperature of the horse. Both of these factors can easily help a trainer assess the fitness levels of the equine star, while it can also help to pinpoint any lingering fitness issues that may not be picked up from the naked eye.
This technology has helped aid welfare by quickly examining potential issues that horses may have, enabling prompt action to be taken to avoid any long-term risk to the health of the horses.
Date Analytics
Sport has constantly evolved over the last 20 years, with more dedication on analytics than ever before. Horse racing is no different in that regard, as it now a sport that is driven by data. Being able to pick up relevant analytics when it comes to horses in training is essential for all trainers, as it can help pinpoint any issues when it comes to performance.
This has a direct impact on the welfare of the horses in the sport, as it can help to pinpoint runners that may have heart issues or areas where they are able to improve. It also has an important role in helping trainers to determine the distances that horses wish to compete over, as it can help identify if a runner has the fitness capacity to compete over longer.
A decision like this can enhance the quality of life that a horse can experience, as they won’t be forced to run in discomfort over longer distances if the analytics show that they want a sharper trip. Analytics are also a key tool for trainers to use when it comes to assessing fatigue in their runners, meaning that they may be given the insight to give their horse more time off in between races.
Medical
Some of the biggest innovations in the sector have come in the medical care that horses can expect to receive if they have any issues. Long gone are the days of trainers making quick decisions to call time on the lives of their horses, as there are now solutions in place to ensure that runners can fight their way back to fitness due to the medical care on offer.
X-rays are now possible on horses due to the advancements made in technology, while the better education received by vets means that they have better understanding when it comes to caring a horse back to full fitness.
Injuries are still a big part of the sport, and this is unlikely to ever be reduced to zero, but the technological advancements made in the medical sector means that there is always a method that can be adopted to ensure that runners can be treated and enjoy a life after their racing careers have come to an end.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is one of the newest tech trends that is being used within horse racing, as the tech has been vital for enhancing safety of racecourses across the world.
This can be done by riding tracks to eliminate the problem areas where fatality rates are at their highest. One of the biggest examples of this was evident in the Grand National in 2024, as sweeping changes was made to the layout of the race to ensure that welfare was as good as it has ever been in the race.
That included altering the number of runners that were involved in the race, and making fences smaller so that falls were kept to a minimum.
