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SARGA.CO – Sudden death in racehorses during training or competition has long been one of the most troubling issues in the horse racing industry. Although such incidents often occur without obvious warning signs, recent research suggests that the risk can, in fact, be detected earlier with the help of technology.
A study published by Thoroughbred Daily News highlights the use of a sensor-based system called StrideSAFE to identify racehorses at risk of sudden death. The research involved more than 21,000 horses across approximately 60,000 race starts.
The StrideSAFE sensor is placed on the horse’s saddle to record movement data and stride patterns. This data is then analyzed using specialized algorithms. The results showed that about 0.7 percent of all race starts were classified as high risk, and within this group, the system successfully identified 83 percent of sudden death cases that later occurred.
Notably, some horses were flagged as high risk as early as eight months before the fatal event, indicating that deaths appearing to be sudden may actually result from conditions that develop gradually over time.
Researchers suspect that cardiac disorders, including heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias), are among the primary causes. However, in many cases, post-mortem examinations reveal no clear structural abnormalities, making diagnosis through conventional methods difficult.
Through this data-driven approach, researchers hope veterinarians will be able to focus follow-up examinations on horses already identified as high risk, allowing preventive measures to be taken earlier.
Although still in its early stages, the findings are considered an important breakthrough in efforts to improve racehorse safety. The technology offers promising potential to reduce sudden death cases while enhancing animal welfare in the modern horse racing industry.
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