The racing industry is on the cusp of significant technological changes that are set to reshape its landscape. These changes are not of the fantastical variety but rather practical tools aimed at enhancing ease-of-use and simplifying cumbersome tasks. Tuesday's Global Symposium on Racing in Tucson shed light on these developments.

Unleashing the Power of Data in Racing

Data as the Foundation

Technological advancements in the racing industry are centered around data. As of December 10, 2024, the fatality rate of Thoroughbreds under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has decreased to 0.88 per 1,000 starts in 2025 from 1.23 per 1,000 starts a year ago. This significant drop can be attributed to HISA's growing database of 4 million veterinary records. The first few years of HISA were focused on building the foundation, like triage, but now they can use this data to give back to the industry.In terms of rulemaking and operations, HISA can match data to regulations more intentionally. This ensures that regulations are supported by data and achieve the goal of keeping horses and riders safe.

Data-Driven Tools and Applications

The online site Horse Racing Nation (HRN) has delved into data to enhance handicapping and more. They have done data-driven studies on testing the accuracy of and automating morning-line odds, verifying veterinary studies of injury risk factors, and predicting the sales prices and racing performance of young horses at auction.For example, Racehorse 360, developed by The Stronach Group (TSG), is an AI-driven product that digitizes the daily minutiae of racing. It allows veterinarians, racing officials, and horsemen easy access to injury-risk factors and enables them to transmit exam results and add to a horse's records.

Software Development for Efficiency

Software developer Michael Novak aims to bring efficiency to owners and trainers via AI. His product Backstretch will be able to scan multiple condition books nationwide to find races that match users' criteria. This simplifies the process of finding suitable races and makes software easier to use.In horse auctions, HRN's data-crunchers fed 24 years of Keeneland sales information into a database to try to gauge prices and future performance. They found that the highest-priced Thoroughbreds aren't always the best performers, presenting an opportunity for "draft picks."

Improving Processes with AI

In the racing secretaries' meeting, the need for AI to handle administrative paperwork was highlighted. Veterinarians are getting frustrated with the paperwork, and AI can help free up their time to focus on what they love.HISA even monitors data on itself. It takes an average of 78 days for the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) to resolve a case, but they aim to improve this by having direct reporting from labs to regulatory veterinarians.In conclusion, data is driving significant changes in the racing industry, from improving safety to enhancing efficiency and providing valuable insights for various stakeholders. These technological advancements are set to shape the future of racing.