Traditionally, racehorse breeders and trainers rely on the pedigrees and training methods handed down through the centuries to guess what a horse is capable of. But they are only guessing at what speed and distance genes a horse has based on what they know of its ancestry. An Equinome genetic test can determine if a horse has a speed gene, along with what distances and conditions it would be best able to run.
One company, EQB near Philadelphia, uses a combination of databases and analytics and technology, such as high-speed cameras to analyze gait, to help the top 10 stables in the U.S. breed and train their racehorses. And in Australia, a former jockey teamed up with a trainer to develop a device called the E-Trakka, which measures a horse’s fitness and speed using a heart monitor and GPS. This tech allows trainers to conduct safe and effective workouts with a racehorse, and also to determine the speeds and distances it is best at running.