What will the horse racing industry be like in 12 years’ time?

As with any sport today, horse racing has embraced its share of technology and changes over the years. As the industry strives to keep up with the rest of the world in terms of fan experiences and sporting excellence, we’ve considered what the industry might look like in 12 year’s time. If you’re a betting man, todays racing betting tips could really help you out, if you’re new to the game.

The Legacy of the Sport

Horse racing has a rich heritage and lasting legacy, but there are calls for the platform to be modernised. If the sport is expected to stand the test of time and grow for future generations, the standards have to be raised to match those of other sports. One area where the sport has to evolve is having zero tolerance for race day medication and a strict adherence to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) standards, as this is something that isn’t followed consistently from race to race, or country to country. This includes banning Lasix, increasing the ban on steroids and therapeutic NSAIDS and a complete transparency of all veterinary records.

Similarly, the future of horse racing is likely to have outgrown the use of the riding crop. Cushion crops should only be used as a corrective measure but while no-one believed jockeys are purposefully mistreating horses in using crops, it’s time that this element of the sport is faded out. After all, the welfare of other athletes has long been a priority in the sporting industry and horse racing sits far behind others in terms of the changes made to cooperate with this thinking.

Greater Use of Technology

As technology evolves, so too will the tools used to train, rehabilitate and race horses. From sea walkers and equine-specific spas to artificial-surface gallops and strengthening tools, the technology used to ensure that horses are at their physical peak before racing is advancing all the time. Over the next 12 years, this will become more of a prominent feature of stables and racetracks as a way of ensuring the health and wellbeing of the horses. Using sports science techniques which have been adapted for animals have already been used to great effect in recent years and the practices incorporated into training routines will become more science focused as the technology allows.

Technology isn’t just for developing and training racehorses but it will also become a more vital feature of monitoring the health of horses and healing injuries. Not too long ago, trainers and vets would have made breathing assessments using judgements and guesswork, but now they are able to fit the animals with endoscopes to gather more detailed data and assess the animals for health issues or injuries far more accurately. The improvements to MRIs and XRay technology has also made it easier to identify the causes behind problems so that they can be treated more effectively. As with other changes in the sport, the focus on the health and care of the horses will become even more of a priority over the coming years and these changes will assist in that.