When the meet opens Aug. 28, Kentucky Downs will use a new timing mechanism born from a strategic partnership between McLloyd—a global leader in horse racing GPS tracking—and StrideSAFE, the Kentucky-based company dedicated to equine welfare through AI-powered sensor analytics.
This collaboration will combine more precise race timing (within .01 second and 25cm distance raw accuracy) and biometrics with thousands of safety data points into one sensor, making it the first of its kind designed to benefit horses, jockeys, and the sport as a whole.
Kentucky Downs co-managing partner Ron Winchell celebrates this decision as a major advancement for the industry that connects superior tracking with welfare.
"I really wanted to bring in a system that was more accurate and moves the ball forward," he said.
Winchell, a longtime advocate for StrideSAFE, believes that linking it with such a sophisticated tracking system is a natural and strategic fit.
"Now you can get the sectional timing and the StrideSAFE welfare data together," he said. "They combine to become a powerful tool that has implications for racing not only in the U.S. but globally."
Dr. David Lambert, CEO of StrideSAFE, points to another advantage of the collaboration.
"Racing, like any business, must manage costs," he said. "StrideSAFE's life-saving technology is proven, so our next priority is making it more accessible. That was a major factor in our decision to partner with McLloyd."
The companies driving this initiative—StrideMASTER (Australia), StrideSAFE (U.S.) and McLloyd (France)—bring over 30 years of combined experience applying sensors to racing horses. This depth of experience ensures the highest engineering standards allowing the sensor to withstand rigorous racing conditions while also capturing accurate, life-saving data.
Since 2022, McLloyd has established itself as a leader in this technology applied to the racing industry with more than 120,000 horses tracked per year around the world.
CEO William Dien looks forward to bringing the technology to Kentucky Downs.
"Addressing horses' welfare and integrity, alongside broadcast and performance domains, marks a new era for our solution," he said. "We are truly proud and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this progress."
Among McLloyd key partners are France Galop (Paris Longchamp), the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Le Trot (French harness racing) and Hollywood Bets in South Africa.
The precision of the data and the reliability of its real-time transmission are backed by four patents, with more breakthroughs on the horizon.
Winchell's vision for the partnership's impact is simple. "Hopefully this helps other tracks and systems move forward with improvements," he said. "Simply put, horsemen and horseplayers need more accurate data."
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