Innovative resources to enhance the safety of horse racing

In horse racing, the turf surface of a track serves a crucial role beyond being mere grass. It provides a platform where safety and fairness are of utmost importance. In pursuit of safer racing practices, a recent study has illuminated the existence of tools that facilitate the assessment of racetrack conditions, making the process more efficient and precise.

The study, titled  “A Comparison of Devices for Race Day Characterisation of North American Turfgrass Thoroughbred Racing Surfaces,” was jointly conducted by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) and Michigan State University (MSU), as published in MDPI Animals. This research endeavour now plays a pivotal role in advancing the safety of the sport.

The researchers embarked on a quest to discover a simpler approach for evaluating the consistency and safety of racetrack surfaces, a task that has gained even greater significance since the implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA).

Turf Surfaces 

According to Peter Schmitt, a PhD student in biosystems and agricultural engineering and one of the authors of the study, extensive research has been conducted on dirt surfaces, but turf racing has garnered popularity and poses distinctive challenges in terms of maintenance. Hence, their study focuses on turf surfaces, with the objective of identifying track conditions that can effectively drain water and host races under varying weather circumstances.

The conventional method of testing involves the utilisation of the Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester (OBST), which Michael Peterson, a co-author of the study and professor at the UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, created. Peterson is also the director of the Racetrack Safety Program. Developed approximately twenty years ago, the OBST imitates the impact experienced by a galloping Thoroughbred's forelimb. It is widely recognised as the industry's benchmark test equipment for assessing racing surfaces during pre-meet inspections. However, there is one drawback—it is not practical for everyday use due to its size and the training required to operate it.

“The OBST, while invaluable for pre-meet inspections, isn’t suited for daily assessments due to its size and the training required to operate," explained Schmitt. "We are exploring alternative tools that can make these essential surface checks more accessible to racetrack personnel."

To address this issue, the research team conducted tests at Michigan State University's Hancock Turfgrass Research Center in East Lansing, Michigan, using five portable tools. The aim was to find a quicker and easier way to gather valuable information about the condition of the racetrack.

“Our goal was to evaluate whether simpler, more accessible tools could approximate the OBST’s measurements," stated Peterson. “If simpler tools can approximate the OBST’s detailed measurements, it could revolutionise how racetracks are maintained–making it easier to keep conditions consistent and safe without extensive equipment or specialised training.”

Tools and Equipment used

The five tools used in the study were a moisture probe, a Clegg Impact Hammer, a Longchamp Penetrometer, a Turf Shear Tester, and a GoingStick®. These tools were applied to various grass and soil mixtures designed to simulate the diverse conditions found on North American racetracks. The objective was to determine whether these tools could accurately measure the factors directly relevant to a racing horse's speed and safety on and beneath the surface.

According to Peterson, one of the study's most intriguing discoveries revolved around the effectiveness of the moisture probe. An assessment of soil water content can provide valuable insights into the overall condition of a racetrack. The study also demonstrated the potential of the Longchamp Penetrometer, which measures the soil's penetrability, and the Clegg Impact Hammer, which evaluates surface hardness, in offering a clearer understanding of the ground beneath.

The newly developed integrated racing surface tester has been specifically designed to enhance the effectiveness of daily racing surface measurements. This instrument utilises the same measurement principle as the Longchamp penetrometer, which is a standard tool originally developed in France for use on racetracks. In addition to incorporating an electronic version of the Longchamp penetrometer, the tester also features a sophisticated commercial sensor capable of measuring moisture and salinity. This sensor is integrated with a GPS sensor, enabling the logging of each measurement's location. The collected data is transmitted in real-time to a relational database for storage and display.

These tools have the potential to enable racetracks to swiftly gather critical data regarding their turf surfaces, facilitating easier maintenance and ensuring optimal conditions for race day. This approach would enhance daily track upkeep and foster a deeper comprehension of how diverse surface conditions impact the performance of horses and riders, as well as their susceptibility to injuries.

The current prototype inspection tool will be utilised in research conducted by the UK and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Surfaces and Safety Laboratory, which is affiliated with UK Ag Equine Programs.

Although the initial application of the new device is focused on measuring moisture, ongoing efforts are being made to adapt it for assessing the penetration resistance of turf on various surfaces. Specifically, modifications have already been made to enable the same mechanical system to measure cushion depth and moisture on dirt racing surfaces. A flexible, low-power network will then facilitate the integration of this data, along with location and time information, which can be displayed on a smartphone in real time. This real-time data can greatly support maintenance decision-making processes.

The potential benefits of such research extend well beyond immediate safety enhancements. Through the standardisation of track assessments, the industry can guarantee that races are conducted under the fairest conditions possible, with all horses competing on surfaces that adhere to the same high standards. Furthermore, the integration of surface condition data with race times and injury reports could yield fresh insights into accident prevention and the improvement of horse welfare.

Peterson emphasised, "This endeavour is not solely focused on discovering new tools; it revolves around enhancing our understanding of what constitutes a safe and equitable racing surface. By incorporating these assessments with other data, we can begin to draw more nuanced conclusions about the factors that contribute to safety and performance."

A current issue of interest involves the effect of saltiness in irrigation water on the precision of moisture meters. If the moisture meters are not appropriately adjusted to accommodate the soil's saltiness, they may produce significantly varied salinity readings, potentially resulting in inaccurate data. In order to tackle this technological gap, the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory is collaborating with UK research initiatives to create a novel instrument known as the Lexington Penetrometer.