| Horse Racing is a sport that does not immediately | | | | tracking and display technologies is truly amazing. |
| make one think of technology but as you will see | | | | Another way in which computers can be used to |
| below, it has the potential to be a genuine innovator | | | | both educate and entertain is through the use of |
| in sports education and entertainment. | | | | computerized track bias simulators. These simulators |
| One of the most exciting developments in the last | | | | take 3D terrain data from the actual track and |
| few years has been the Internet and the horse | | | | predict the changing track bias as the race day |
| racing industry has grasped the opportunity with both | | | | progresses. The systems have the ability to |
| hands and utilizes e-commerce and database driven | | | | graphically show ideal racing lines and even predict |
| back end processes better than almost any other | | | | with some accuracy the eventual winner. This is |
| industry. The Internet has grown up a lot and it is | | | | clearly a great tool for television and it is through |
| now possible to deliver real time 3D representations | | | | these technologies that a younger audience can be |
| of actual races over a broadband connection. This | | | | attracted to the sport of kings. |
| requires transponders being placed on each horse so | | | | As far as entertainment is concerned, a great use of |
| that multiple readings per second of horse positions | | | | the myriad computer based tipping systems in the |
| can be collected dynamically. | | | | market place is to have a computer versus the |
| This is NOW technology and a company in England | | | | expert segment during a racing telecast. It would be |
| called Turf Trax is doing this every day for UK racing. | | | | fun to see who picks the most winners and it is |
| No doubt there are other companies that possess | | | | something that could be run year long with a tally |
| this radio triangulation technology also. CSIRO in | | | | being kept along the way. With positional information |
| Australia springs to mind. The data collected using this | | | | for all horses, you could have a "what-if" analysis of |
| method is invaluable as an education tool for new and | | | | an upcoming race. Put all of the horses that are in |
| seasoned punters alike. Sectional times, speed bursts, | | | | the race together and run a "Virtual" race based on |
| historical comparisons and much more can be | | | | previous form prior to the real thing. What a hoot for |
| displayed, explained and dissected either on TV or | | | | the Melbourne Cup. |
| online. Companies like Australia's Virtual Spectator | | | | The upshot of all of this is that by utilizing |
| posses the skills and technologies to take this | | | | technology, you can educate and entertain the horse |
| positional data and turn it into 3D animations that are | | | | race loving community and attract new people to the |
| completely controlled by the viewer. The mix of | | | | sport. |