Why IT Has Become So Important for the Horse Racing Industry
Most people consider horse racing to be a sport that sticks to its roots when it comes to technological advancements, and that is a sport that is carefully tied to tradition, but they are wrong.
Horse racing is one of the most technologically advanced sports in the world that has adapted to modern times by infusing new technologies into the process. Nowadays, we live in a digital world where sports need to follow the pace of new technologies in order to stay relevant.
Plus, the IT industry has brought some incredible technologies that can help horse racing become more entertaining, increase its reach, make it safer for everyone involved including horses, and help make the sport more sustainable.
So, there are many important reasons why IT has become an integral part of the horse racing industry.
In today’s article, we will dive deeper into how IT has changed horse racing and what are all the benefits that came from this fusion.
IT in Horse Racing
You might be wondering, “Why on earth would a sport that’s essentially about fast horses need IT?” Well, just like peanut butter found its jelly, horse racing discovered that information technology (IT) could enhance its flavor in numerous ways.
From managing stables to placing bets from the comfort of your sofa, IT has turned horse racing into a sport that could give any modern-day event a run for its money—literally.
Real-time Data
Let’s talk about the most important aspect of horse racing – data. Data is everywhere, and being able to collect it, analyze it, and come up with a strategy requires technology. In today’s world, horse racing as a sport uses IT to track many important factors pre-, during, and post-race.
This isn’t sci-fi; it’s what IT has brought to the table. By leveraging wearable tech, trainers can optimize training regimes, predict performance, and prevent injuries.
And for the punters? They get to make more informed bets, which is always a plus. On top of that, IT brought the accessibility of information. According to TwinSpires, you can know that only 40 Kentucky Derby winners won as Derby favorites. This can improve your chances.
Being able to track data from horse races has become a crucial part of horse racing, and this isn’t possible without the use of modern technology.
Betting
There is no denying that betting is an integral part of the horse racing industry. If betting wasn’t available, horse racing wouldn’t be as popular as it is today.
But just as horse racing advances to new modern times, the betting sector should also keep up.
Nowadays, horse racing betting is more available than ever thanks to innovative technologies. We have the birth of online horse racing betting, and online betting platforms have revolutionized the way bets are analyzed and placed, which offers convenience and makes the process simpler to use.
If we don’t have technological innovations in the horse racing betting industry, nobody would go to the nearest racetrack to place a bet, which means that the sport will lose its popularity.
Health and Nutrition
Technological advancements are not only used for performance tracking and data analysis. They are also quite important for managing horse’s health and nutrition, which significantly enhances the well-being of the animals.
Stables aren’t the same compared to a decade ago. Nowadays, they have high-tech water filtration systems, making sure horses get access to healthy and clean drinking water, and on top of that, there are tech solutions that provide tailor-made nutrition programs for each horse.
Perhaps most groundbreaking is the use of regenerative medicine, such as stem cell therapy, to treat injuries, marking a leap forward in equine healthcare.
Video and Drone
The entertainment factor is also quite important for horse racing to maintain its popularity. After all, nobody would want to watch a boring race or a race where they don’t have a good view of the action.
IT transformed the viewer experience of horse racing, and that’s a fact. Nowadays, we have high-speed cameras that are capable of catching even the smallest details in the race. On top of that, some racecourses have already started introducing drones into the process, which provides a better view of the action with breathtaking aerial footage.
These tools not only enrich the fan experience but also provide valuable data for improving training and racing strategies.
Social Media
Lastly, we cannot avoid the importance of social media, especially for attracting the younger demographic which is responsible for carrying the sport into the future. Over the last couple of years, horse racing has modernized in every way.
Most of the big horse racing events are already using social media to broaden their reach and bring the passion to a new fan base that might get interested in the sport.
IT has enabled the horse racing industry to establish a deeper connection with horse racing fans by using social media, and thanks to chatbots and content planning systems they can stay relevant in the digital world.