Thoroughbred Industry Embracing New AI Tech

Technological advances in artificial intelligence and its applications in the equine industry took center stage during a session of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's Global Symposium on Racing on Dec. 10 in Tucson, according to bloodhorse.com. Following remarks by University of Arizona men's basketball coach Tommy Lloyd, Oaklawn Park president Louis Cella, and Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, six speakers delved into AI's transformative potential for horse racing. Moderator Kyle McDoniel, president and COO of Equibase, opened by highlighting AI's use in creating machine-learning products for handicappers and tracking high-speed workouts using girth-mounted sensors. Ricardo Valerdi, from the University of Arizona, demonstrated AI's accessibility by showcasing a 20-minute podcast generated by Google NotebookLM discussing Symposium panels in surprising detail. Mike Nova, founder of Backstretch and Contest Jockey, discussed converting condition books into machine-readable formats, while Zoë Nengite from Palantir Technologies highlighted efforts to use AI for identifying equine risk factors and minimizing breakdowns. Mark Midland, CEO of Horse Racing Nation, explained how AI helps provide handicapping data and assess factors like weight, which impacts horses' physical strain. "Anybody that's going to go out for a run this afternoon, you know that weight does have a factor on your knees, your ankles, and things like that," Midland remarked. He also emphasised how AI handicapping tools could bridge gaps between traditional players and computer-assisted wagering groups, which already exploit machine-learning advantages and wagering rebates. Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for 1/ST Racing, concluded with insights on Racehorse 360, a tool combining cameras and computer software to monitor horses at Santa Anita Park in real time. She described how the system identifies horses with irregular gaits and offers veterinarians instant data during the busy "morning rush hour." "You don't have to have anything on the horse. It's completely hands-off," Benson explained, noting that the system can track up to 100 horses simultaneously with the right cameras. The morning sessions concluded with an international panel discussing how racing organizations worldwide are navigating their challenges and opportunities.