Most people think that the horse racing industry never really innovates much, and the sport has been stuck in the same place for hundreds of years. But in reality, things are different. Just because the sport looks the same and it ties closely to traditions, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t businesses that are bringing the industry into the future.
In fact, the horse racing industry is one of the fastest-advancing industries where we can spot traces of GPS technology, wearable tech, predictive analysis, artificial intelligence, surface material innovations, blockchain technology, and many other things.
This inspired us to go on a search for the most innovative startups that reshape the entire horse racing industry and are setting new standards. Why? Well, such companies are very important for the multi-billion-dollar industry, just because horse racing needs to become more attractive for younger generations just so the sport can survive in the future.
So, which startups are in charge of future-proofing the horse racing industry?
MyRacehorse
I don’t think there is a horse racing enthusiast that haven’t thought about what it is like to become a racehorse owner. Even non-horse racing fans think about owning a beautiful Thoroughbred.
However, up until now, this was out of reach for most people. Why? Well, if you didn’t know, racehorses, especially ones with good genes, are really expensive. They go from $50,000 up to a few million. So, for regular people like you and me, owning a horse was out of the question.
That was the case up until MyRacehorse, which is a California-based startup that raised $7 million in 2023 and expanded its platform to 50,000 active owners. Did you get the idea?
They’ve done something that revolutionized the horse racing industry forever. They introduced fractionalized horse ownership. But what does this mean? Well, instead of buying an entire racehorse for yourself, you buy shares from an actual, real-world racehorse. This means that you can buy as little as $100 worth of shares of an actual horse and represent a percentage in the ownership.
There is nothing like seeing your horse appear in the current Preakness odds, or even better, watching your horse race in a high-profile race. This opened up so many opportunities for the horse racing industry.
Equine MediRecord
Since racehorses are very expensive, their health status is always a top priority for the owners. But up until now, racehorse owners relied on the local vet (when available), which added more risk.
Fortunately, we got Ireland’s Equine MediRecord, which makes everything easier. We are talking about a startup founded by Trinity College Dublin grads, which is basically an app and web-based platform that ditches paper vet records and uses a cloud-based system for tracking vaccine, med, and treatment with exceptional accuracy.
Having such a record is very important for horses, not only for maintaining their well-being, but also, such a record can increase their resale value (kind of like a car with a full-service history).
Trainers and vets love the app, and it already has more than 1,000 users, including top names like John Oxx.
This app is saving lives by ensuring horses get timely care.
Game of Silks
If you’re into fantasy sports and crypto, Game of Silks is your new obsession. Launched in 2021, this New York-based startup raised $10 million by 2023, partnering with big names like the New York Racing Association.
Here’s the deal: you buy NFTs tied to real Thoroughbreds, then earn crypto rewards based on their actual race wins. It’s like fantasy football, but for horse racing, with blockchain ensuring every transaction is legit. Over 10,000 users were playing by 2024, drawn by the chance to “own” a digital horse and cash in on its success.
The platform’s gamified vibe, plus integrations with FOX Sports, is hooking Millennials who might’ve skipped the track otherwise. Game of Silks is proof racing can be as thrilling online as it is in the grandstands.
Equimetre
France’s Equimetre is bringing Moneyball vibes to horse racing with its AI-powered wearable sensor. Strapped to a horse’s girth, it tracks heart rate, stride length, and track conditions in real time, feeding data to trainers to optimize workouts.
By 2024, over 2,000 trainers worldwide, including in the US and Australia, were using it to boost performance and spot health issues early — like a limp before it’s a fracture. The device’s 99% accuracy, backed by 400,000+ rides, helps horses run smarter, not harder, cutting injury risks. It’s not cheap — think $1,000 per unit — but the payoff in race wins and horse welfare is huge.
Equimetre’s data-driven approach is making trainers feel like they’ve got a secret weapon, and it’s setting a new standard for how horses prep for the big leagues.
Final Words
These are some of the companies, but not all of them, that are already revolutionizing the world of horse racing. Other companies produced AI-powered trackers that scan the horse’s movement and can predict injury before they even happen.
Who knew that the horse racing industry is so innovative? If this trend continues at the same pace, the horse racing industry will fly into the future.