Horse racing has come a long way since the first ever recorded event that took place in France in 1651. Since then a lot has changed in this super exciting sport. Nowadays, horse racing is very dependent on modern technology which makes the sport even better.
Technology has transformed many things in horse racing, such as how the jockeys and the horses train, how the fans watch, and much more. Here are some of the things that technology has changed in horse racing.
Photo Finish
As you might know, in horse racing, many of the races end up with a close finish that makes it very difficult for any person to distinguish the winner from the naked eye. For that reason, the photo finish technology was introduced back in the 1930s, which helps to decide a winner of a race more accurately.
However, certain delays come with this technology, which resulted in using newer technologies such as the 1-dimensional array sensors. Before this new technology, horse racing officials were waiting for a photo to be developed.
This meant that the jockeys and the fans would have to wait before finding out who won the race. Bettors were also impatient in these occurrences as they would haven’t had a clue whether their wager was successful or not.
This new and highly sophisticated technology provides the official with an answer immediately, which greatly improves the spectacle.
Mobile and Live Betting
Betting on horse races has been a popular activity for many years. But, nowadays with the advanced technology that provided us with the Internet and mobile devices, bettors are able to place bets at any time right from the track.
You don’t have to wait in line at the bookmakers in order to wager on the horse racing events. Everything can be done very quickly from your mobile device, at one of the sports betting sites.
One of the most advanced technologies that reshaped online betting, as well as horse racing events, is the live betting option. With it, you can place wagers on races that have already started.
You can follow the horse racing events right from the stands and see how things are shaping out before deciding what type of wager to place. It is advisable to check some racing tips at Cheltenham Festival, or any other event before you jump on this new trend.
Improved Safety
The safety of the horses and the jockeys is of great importance to the organizers of the horse racing events. They’ve implemented bright colours on the track fences to help the horses to see them better when competing in jump races.
This has drastically reduced the number of incidents on the field. Nowadays, the tracks feature a more simplistic design, which also helps reduce accidents.
However, the technological interference in these sporting events has also played a key role in improving safety. Using thermal imaging cameras, vets can now accurately see whether a horse is overheating after a hard-demanding race.
This has been a major health and safety risk for a long time. The vets regularly check the temperature of the horses after each race and take certain actions if the horse needs cooling.
Medical equipment that is similar to the ones used on humans is also used to help diagnose diseases and injuries much faster. Vets use the following medical equipment on horses X-rays, MRI scanners, and endoscopes.
Improved Data
Horse racing is a major sport that is driven by data, with fans, trainers, and bettors constantly acquiring certain valuable information. They are most often interested in data information on track conditions, weather, distance and shape of the field track, previous form, and much more.
There are numerous companies that provide this kind of data, thanks to their highly sophisticated technologies. Among the most important ones is the tracking equipment, which is very much similar to the fitness trackers used by humans.
They are applied to a horse to detect its relation to the track and other horses on the field in real-time. A device that assesses the track condition is also used in horse racing events.
As you might know, some horses perform better on sloppy tracks while others run better on tracks that feature a nicer surface.
