Accuracy of the TurfTrax Racing Data System for determination of equine speed and position.
Abstract: The speed and position data collected by TurfTrax Racing Data Limited during UK Thoroughbred racing have potential to benefit equine science and welfare. The size (the 2006 data set alone consists of 30,932 individual horse starts across 2667 races) and nature (speed and 2D position for each horse at 4 updates per second) of the data make it a unique resource for questions in equine safety, welfare, performance, and animal locomotion. Objective: To determine the accuracy of the TurfTrax tracking system in estimating the speed and position of horses during racing. Methods: Measurements from the TurfTrax wireless tracking system were compared with those of a survey-grade global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Results: The TurfTrax system was found to give position measurements to within +/- 11 and +/- 64 cm in the fore-aft and lateral directions, respectively, averaging +/- 38 cm (interquartile range) and speed to within 0.15 m/s. Conclusions: The data collected by the TurfTrax system are of sufficient accuracy to inform new diagnoses, training regimens and basic locomotor scientific studies. The position data can provide the precise distance, going, inclination, rate of turn and pack positioning through which each horse has raced. The speed profile can be used to examine the level of exertion, effect of training regimens and influence of racecourse features on performance. A first clinical application would be to analyse retrospectively these factors on occurrence of injury to compare with past training regimens, levels of exertion, and/or racecourse conditions.
Publication Date: 2009-01-24 PubMed ID: 19165938DOI: 10.2746/042516408x330338Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research scrutinizes the precision of the TurfTrax Racing Data System for determining horse speed and positioning during races. The TurfTrax system is a potentially valuable tool for equine welfare and performance studies. The research discovered that the system accurately provides position measurements and speed with minimal variance, crucial for informing training practices and studying equine locomotion.
Objective
- The main goal of the study was to ascertain the accuracy of the TurfTrax system in estimating the speed and position of horses during races.
Methods
- The researchers compared measurements from the TurfTrax wireless tracking system with those of a survey-grade global positioning system (GPS) receiver.
Results
- The TurfTrax system was found accurate, with position measurements deviating by +/- 11 and +/- 64 cm in the fore-aft and lateral directions, respectively.
- On average, the TurfTrax system had a variance of +/- 38 cm (interquartile range).
- Regarding speed, TurfTrax was within 0.15 m/s of the actual speed.
Conclusions
- The accuracy of data collected by the TurfTrax system is sufficient for informing new diagnoses, creating effective training regimens and conducting fundamental locomotor scientific studies.
- The position data can be used to find out the exact distance, going, inclination, rate of turn, and pack positioning of each horse during a race.
- Speed information can be used to assess the level of exertion, effect of training regimens, and influence of racecourse features on the performance.
- The data can be clinically applied to look back on the influence of these factors on the occurrence of injuries, comparing them with past training methods, levels of exertion, and/or racecourse conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Spence AJ, Tan H, Wilson A.
(2009).
Accuracy of the TurfTrax Racing Data System for determination of equine speed and position.
Equine Vet J, 40(7), 680-683.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408x330338 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Data Collection / instrumentation
- Data Collection / methods
- Geographic Information Systems
- Horses / physiology
- Locomotion / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Reproducibility of Results
- Running / physiology
- Safety
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Sports
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Vázquez Diosdado JA, Barker ZE, Hodges HR, Amory JR, Croft DP, Bell NJ, Codling EA. Space-use patterns highlight behavioural differences linked to lameness, parity, and days in milk in barn-housed dairy cows.. PLoS One 2018;13(12):e0208424.
- Self ZT, Spence AJ, Wilson AM. Speed and incline during thoroughbred horse racing: racehorse speed supports a metabolic power constraint to incline running but not to decline running.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2012 Aug 15;113(4):602-7.
- Spence AJ, Thurman AS, Maher MJ, Wilson AM. Speed, pacing strategy and aerodynamic drafting in Thoroughbred horse racing.. Biol Lett 2012 Aug 23;8(4):678-81.
- Tan H, Wilson AM. Grip and limb force limits to turning performance in competition horses.. Proc Biol Sci 2011 Jul 22;278(1715):2105-11.
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