Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world that dates back thousands of years. However, the sport is very different now compared to when it started. Thanks to modern technology, horse racing is now safer, more accurate, and more fun to watch sport, but this is not the end.
As technology moves forward organizers and horse racing officials are always looking for a way to adopt modern technology and use it in the sport. Nowadays, we have modern gadgets that measure the vitals of the jockey as well as the horse on the track, technology that can prevent injuries, as well as motion capture, and lasers to accurately display results down to the millisecond.
However, as facial recognition technology becomes more mainstream, officials are looking for a way to use this incredible biometrics technology in horse racing.
So, how will facial recognition technology find its way to horse racing? Will you be able to use an app to identify a famous competitor headlining the horse racing news by TwinSpires.com?
Well, there are a couple of different segments where this tech can be applied in horse racing.
Technology to Identify Racehorses
Ever since facial recognition technology became a standard option for every modern smartphone, horse racing officials have started to look into this segment and try to figure out how this technology can help horse racing.
One of the first issues that come to mind is the horse identification process. Until now, the only way to authenticate that each horse arriving at the paddock for the race is not there by mistake is by using lip-tattoo identification.
However, thanks to facial recognition technology, horse race organizers are looking into using this tech for animal identity. In fact, several big companies are currently developing facial recognition software for a variety of organizations.
It is important to know that facial recognition technology isn’t only limited to humans. With that said, software that can prove the identity of the horse can serve a vital purpose in horse racing.
Facial Recognition at a Horse Racing Track
Some racetrack owners are also looking for a way to apply this technology to their tracks as a measure to increase security. The ability to scan faces at the entrance of a track is a great way to prove the identity of the visitors and maintain a high level of security.
However, adding facial recognition software to a public place is not regulated by law in most countries. In fact, the owners of Hawthorne Race Course have already applied such technology to their race track and got in trouble with it.
Little after they installed a facial recognition software they were sued by multiple people under Illinois’ biometrics privacy law.
Even though this technology can be used in horse racing for preventing unwanted situations and forbidding the entry of unwanted visitors, since it is not regulated by law, it still remains in the grey area.
Facial Recognition In Horse Racing Betting
Another sector where facial recognition can find its use in horse racing betting. Can you imagine a horse racing betting station where you don’t need to present any documents to verify your identity or age, and at the end of the day, the money of your winning ticket can be obtained by showing your face?
It is a rather interesting idea that we can see moving forward as the biometrics laws start to soften up. Facial recognition software makes the process much easier for customers, but at the same time, the bookmakers have the data in their system connected to your biometrics that can show your recent wins, total bets placed, and much more that can be used in their advantage.
Final Words
As technology moves forward, we can see more adaptation of modern technology in horse racing. The goal is to make the sport more available, safer, and fun to watch, and technology is the best way to sort out all of these issues.
The facial recognition software will come in very handy, especially after is developed for animals. Since we are in the process of doing that, we expect to see this technology used in horse racing very soon.