| The world of horse racing handicapping is a complex | | | | Brown, winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby and |
| game with many variables. Most handicappers are | | | | 2008 Preakness Stakes. |
| aware of the importance of time- tested data on | | | | While some handicappers have embraced the new |
| speed and past performances. What most | | | | technology, many are hesitant to make adjustments |
| handicappers do not know is that a new kind of data | | | | to their existing approaches. It can take years for |
| has become available. This data, generated through a | | | | handicappers to develop a system. That makes it |
| process called "equine biomechanics" assigns metrics | | | | difficult to integrate a new variable. However, since |
| to various aspects of horse athleticism. | | | | the spoils of handicapping tend to favor the player |
| Specialized analysts inspect race tapes, collecting over | | | | with an edge, many handicappers are curious to see |
| 50 individual observations per horse for each race. It | | | | if equine biomechanics will provide that edge. |
| can take up to eight hours for a trained individual to | | | | Currently, only one company makes data on equine |
| analyze a single race. The data points are then | | | | biomechanics available. Case the Race offers a |
| grouped into categories such as coordination, aerobic | | | | subscription-based service providing equine |
| efficiency, stride quality and endurance. In each | | | | biomechanical data on horses racing in California. For |
| category, each horse is assigned a metric based on | | | | those who want to test the data before buying, |
| the data compiled. In addition to creating a | | | | free trial subscriptions are also available. |
| quantitative measure for the purpose of comparison, | | | | According to the Case the Race website, the data is |
| the metrics can also be used to illustrate trends in | | | | designed to complement horseplayers' existing |
| performance. | | | | systems, not to replace them. For example, a player |
| While biomechanical measurement is a new | | | | who is adept at identifying winning horses by |
| development in horse racing, it has become an | | | | analyzing speed, pace and class variables would still |
| accepted practice in other sports. Trainers and | | | | employ those methods. However, they would have |
| recruiters for the National Football League, Major | | | | the additional advantage of having information on |
| League Baseball and for Olympic athletes use | | | | athletic ability and would be able to examine a horse's |
| biomechanical measurements to dissect athletic | | | | recent trends. |
| performance and ability. The NFL Combine is one of | | | | If equine biomechanics lives up to the promise of |
| the most recognized applications of biomechanical | | | | providing handicappers with an advantage, it will be |
| measurement. At the NFL Combine, players perform | | | | interesting to see how quickly horseplayers will adapt. |
| a series of drills and tests in which their performance | | | | When speed figures were first introduced, those |
| is measured. | | | | who were the first to leverage the new information |
| In the horse racing industry, the practice of using | | | | were in a position to reap the most benefits. As the |
| biomechanics was first introduced by breeders. One | | | | use of speed figures became common practice, |
| company that has successfully used biomechanics in | | | | those who disregarded them paid a price. However, |
| breeding is Monticule Farm. The best know, and most | | | | because speed figures were so widely used, the |
| successful horse from Monticule Farm has been Big | | | | benefit of using them diminished. |