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By Serge Okey
AI: A REVO- LUTION UNDER- WAY IN THE WORLD OF HORSE RACING
Like many other fields, horse racing is being swept up in the rapid development of new technologies. Their use now goes far beyond simple tracking systems. Whether AI will one day be able to produce the perfect horse, whether horses will be controlled by hands other than jockeys’, or whether racing will eventually transition into a fully virtual world remains unknown. Though some areas of research are cutting-edge, France is far from being a leader in this domain. But the revolution is already out of the starting gates.
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And this is just the beginning...“ AI is going to transform every sector in record time,” predicts Anne Bouverot, the high priestess of the International Summit on AI held in Paris this past February. Symbolizing this massive shift, ChatGPT is seen merely as a first glimpse, a seed of the tech advancements to come. To fully understand the magnitude of this ongoing revolution, it helps to distinguish between three types of artificial intelligence. Today’ s AI, known as“ Narrow AI”, is designed to perform specific tasks. This includes chatbots, voice assistants, and so on. Tomorrow’ s AI, known as“ General AI,” could autonomously match or exceed human intelligence. And as for what lies ahead, some predict the arrival of“ Super AI,” capable of surpassing human intelligence and possessing self-awareness. Until that future- evocative of an episode from Black Mirror- becomes reality( or not), how deeply have these technologies already taken root in horse racing? In a webinar published at the end of January, Benoit Pasquiet, an engineer at the IFCE( French Institute of Horse and Riding), gave a comprehensive overview of AI’ s presence using various examples:“ Asymmetry detection and stride frequency in locomotion, jump trajectory tracking by a Google team, image extraction, facial recognition, overlay of gallop sequences for comparison, 3D visualization for full horse morphology analysis, and sensors providing precise data on forces and movements …”
Tracking Enters the Stables Even ChatGPT itself confirms it: data is already“ considerable” in horse racing, and AI is“ rapidly evolving.” This is echoed across the industry. While some trainers have moved away from it, others, both in France and abroad, are embracing tracking technology as a breath of fresh air in their stables. Professionals aren’ t glued to their tablets, but the trend is gaining traction. Embodied by Christopher Head and his impressive results, validated by the expertise of Joseph O’ Brien, this shift is inspiring others, from Tim Donworth to Stéphane Wattel. France is not Hong Kong, but on its own scale, with more racetracks, it’ s slowly gearing up. Since the 2019 Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, France Galop has been deploying tracking tech through its provider McLloyd. These tools are still chasing optimal reliability, but the foundation has been laid. At the Chantilly tracks, the situation is similar. Sensors don’ t like humidity and sometimes get lost in GPS radars, but some trainers already can’ t imagine going without them, nor can cer-
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