Equibase, the Thoroughbred industry's official database for racing information, announced Oct. 22 the addition of result charts that include data collected from global positioning satellite systems.
"After many years of evaluating GPS to deliver expanded data, Equibase is pleased to be successfully leveraging this technology for racing," said Sal Sinatra, president and chief operating officer for Equibase. "GPS technology provides comprehensive data for each horse during the entire running of a race, and we are excited to now be able to provide this rich data on the website."
During the running of the race, the GPS system collects a comprehensive data set every half second for every horse in the race. The charts will enable users to see this data at the traditional points of call, as well as at one-sixteenth-mile intervals. In addition to traditional information such as lengths ahead and lengths behind, data such as each horse's sectional and cumulative time, average speed, number of strides, average stride length, and average strides per second are included in each GPS chart.
The new GPS charts are free for registered users of equibase.com and can be found next to the traditional result charts for each track utilizing the automated tracking technology.
Equibase has GPS systems in place at Canterbury Park, Colonial Downs, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Penn National Race Course, Kentucky Downs, Laurel Park, Monmouth Park, Oaklawn Park, Pimlico, Sam Houston Race Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Woodbine.
GPS systems are also installed at two harness facilities—the Meadowlands and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Equibase's GPS technology partner, Total Performance Data, is based in the United Kingdom and has more than a dozen tracking systems deployed there, in addition to the U.S. installations.
Additionally, the comprehensive data collected by GPS for each runner during the running of the race can be used to drive on-screen graphics. A number of the tracks listed above are utilizing the technology for their graphics. In addition, several other tracks use the GPS data feed to depict graphics through a third-party vendor.
Equibase is a partnership between subsidiaries of The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America and serves as the Thoroughbred industry's official database. Through its website and mobile applications, Equibase offers a comprehensive array of free statistical information as well as premium handicapping products and reports in support of the North American Thoroughbred racing industry.
