Even though the horse racing industry might feel like the same old thing for years, the reality is that it shifted to a modern dimension while sticking to the same roots of tradition and history.
This is a great thing for horse racing as a sport. It incorporates modern technology making the sport more available worldwide and suitable for modern times while still keeping close to what makes the spot exciting to watch.
In the past couple of years, we’ve seen some big changes in the horse racing industry, and 2024 is going to maintain the same pace. Big trends are lined up that promise to change the horse racing industry forever, making it more versatile, tech-oriented, and sustainable.
This inspired us to go on a search to find out the biggest trends that are lined up for this year. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the rough waters of horse racing and find out what can we expect from the sport in 2024.
Technological Innovations
Just because horse racing is a sport carefully tied to tradition and history, it doesn’t mean that it should abandon modern technology.
Most people would be surprised to find out that horse racing is actually one of the most tech-forward sports in the world that started introducing new technology way before mainstream sports.
This trend will continue in 2024. We expect many new technologies to stir up the industry, such as:
Virtual Reality
Nowadays, we often see sports (like the NBA) that are selling virtual reality tickets to matches. The idea is that you put on your VR headset at home, and teleport to a stadium to watch the match.
VR technologies have been incorporated in the horse racing industry, but in 2024 we expect more events to offer this feature. This is very important for horse racing as a sport, since most of the big horse racing events are not available to most people around the world, and the only way to see the action in person is through virtual reality.
Data Analytics
If you are a horse racing enthusiast, then you probably already know the importance of data for the sport. Thanks to all the technological advancements such as sensors and wearable tech, we can gather more accurate data.
This has many different benefits. First and most importantly, horse racing is going to be safer for both jockeys and horses since we can accurately monitor their vitals. Additionally, betting is going to be more fun since we have more data to use in our analysis when predicting the outcome. And lastly, real-time data can be displayed on horse racing events, improving the overall user experience of the sport.
But it is not only about acquiring data. It is also about reading and making that data available to the public. Today, people can go on a horse racing website and find out all the information it needs about the horse and the jockey.
Virtual Races (Blockchain)
If you’ve been living under a rock and somehow missed the virtual simulation horse races trend, don’t worry, it is here to stay. The idea is to make horse racing more available, and have races constantly 24/7. Although we are not talking about real horses, the excitement is still on the same level.
Sustainability
Just like any other sport, horse racing thrives to become more sustainable. Big horse racing events and racecourses are already working on waste management, making solar-powered facilities, water conservation methods, and much more.
In 2024, we expect to see more eco-friendly practices from the horse racing industry that are aimed at lowering the carbon footprint of the sport.
Diversity
Horse racing faces the same problems as many other sports. The problem of diversity. It is no secret that horse racing has always been a male-dominated sport (with some honorable exceptions). But 2024 shines a light on diversification.
We are not talking only about jockeys, although we expect to see more female jockeys this year. We are talking about the diversity of trainers, breeders, and even the audience.
As horse racing grows in popularity and we see a change in the unwritten rules, the sport will become more diverse. It’s a refreshing change that makes the sport more relatable and, dare we say, more exciting.
Health and Safety
At the moment, the horse racing industry faces a couple of big problems that might dictate its future. First of all, we have the change of generations, that are not that familiar with horse racing (like more to play games), where technology can help to make horse racing attractive for the younger audience.
On the other hand, we have the ethical factor of horse racing, and many horse deaths on big events, that have put a label on the sport as being unethical. Therefore, we expect that 2024 will be the year where organizers will focus more on health and safety for everyone that is involved.
Thanks to technology, we can now predict injuries, and focus on the well-being of these majestic creatures. We also expect stricter health regulations and improved veterinary care, with the goal to ensure that the horses are not just fast, but also fit and healthy.