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HISA and Palantir Develop AI-Enabled Tool to Help Identify At-Risk Horses

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has partnered with Palantir Technologies, a leading provider of artificial intelligence systems, to create a data-enabled tool to assist industry stakeholders in identifying horses at risk for injury before they race, according to a press release Tuesday morning from HISA. The tool will generate a daily report for each racetrack, flagging any horses entered in that day's races who may present potential risk factors for injury. This enables identification of at-risk horses with increased efficiency and accuracy and will inform the hands-on pre-race inspections of each runner.

The new tool HISA and Palantir have developed reviews health information and historical entry data to determine whether each horse entered in a race is at increased risk for injury based on various factors. The tool accounts for such risk factors as the length of a horse's previous layoff (if any), term with current trainer, history on the vet's list and other indicators of previous injury or poor performance. The process for evaluating these records for each horse entered in a race had previously taken veterinarians an average of five hours per race. This same review can now be accomplished in a matter of minutes.

“HISA continues to work with leading partners like Palantir to utilize data and technology in its mission to reduce equine injuries and fatalities,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Our hope is that this revolutionary technology is used to more efficiently and accurately identify horses at risk of injury as part of the screening process for determining if they're fit to race. This powerful, AI-enabled tool will streamline and automate a process that had previously taken significant time away from veterinarians' hands-on care of horses. We're excited to be working with the experts at Palantir on this and future initiatives.”

“Palantir is proud to support HISA in its embrace of technology to reduce equine injuries and fatalities,” said Palantir's Head of Global Commercial Ted Mabrey. “HISA came to a Bootcamp for Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) this fall and has rapidly scaled its implementation independently. HISA is proving that real world outcomes, in this case equine safety, can be achieved in weeks with the acceleration that AIP and boot camps provide.”

“By leveraging Palantir's technology, HISA is helping to significantly reduce the time it takes to identify horses potentially at risk,” said Steve Keech, Director of Data Usage and Technology Innovation for HISA. “We look forward to rolling this tool out to all racetracks under HISA's jurisdiction. This collaboration with Palantir puts us at the forefront of sports technology, and I have no doubt this partnership will be a game-changer for the safety of equine athletes.”

HISA said they expected to begin using this tool in early 2024. It will send daily reports to racetracks and regulatory veterinarians around the country that will provide them with data and resources .

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Is AI About to Steal My Job? Not So Fast

We've been told that artificial intelligence is going to take over the world while also taking over the jobs currently being done by humans. I would imagine that would include the press coverage of horse races. I might have 35-years experience on the job, but that doesn't mean I match up to computers or machines being able to simulate human intelligence to perform tasks or solve problems. They say that within our lifetimes, artificial intelligence (AI) will have altered our world more significantly and faster than any other technology since the discovery of electricity.
But can AI do a better job writing a story for the Thoroughbred Daily News than I can and wouldn't that make me expendable? It turns out I have nothing to fear.

Perhaps some day this will change, but when it comes to horse racing coverage AI isn't ready for prime time. I have turned to ChatGPT, which is a large language model-based chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched on November 30, 2022. It is notable for enabling users to refine and steer a conversation towards a desired length, format, style, level of detail, and language used.

I've asked ChatGPT to write several stories based on recent occurrences in racing. Every time, the result is nothing sort of gibberish and nonsense and factual errors. Let's take this example, when I asked ChatGPT to “write a story about Forte winning the Jim Dandy.”

Here's what the computer came up with:

“Once upon a time in the world of horse racing, there was a magnificent thoroughbred named Forte. He was a striking chestnut stallion with a strong and muscular build, and his eyes gleamed with a fiery determination. Forte was known for his incredible speed and relentless spirit on the racetrack, and he had captured the hearts of racing enthusiasts around the world.

“The Jim Dandy Stakes was one of the most prestigious horse racing events of the year. Held at the historic Saratoga Race Course, it attracted the finest three-year-old horses in the country. The anticipation was electric as the day of the race approached, and Forte's name was on everyone's lips.

“Forte was owned by Mr. Richard Anderson, a passionate horse lover who had invested his heart and soul into raising and training Forte to be the champion he was. He had a team of skilled trainers and jockeys who worked tirelessly to prepare Forte for the big race.

“As the morning of the Jim Dandy Stakes dawned, the Saratoga Race Course was buzzing with excitement. The grandstands were packed with cheering spectators, and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Forte's presence was captivating, and whispers of his victories from previous races circulated among the crowd.

“The gates opened, and the horses thundered down the track. Forte's jockey, a talented and experienced rider named Mike, guided him skillfully through the pack. As they rounded the first turn, Forte's stride was powerful, and he surged ahead, taking the lead.

“But the Jim Dandy Stakes was no ordinary race, and the competition was fierce. Other top-class horses were vying for the win, and they were not willing to let Forte have an easy victory. The race intensified as they entered the backstretch, and Forte faced the challenge of maintaining his lead.

“In the final turn, two formidable opponents closed in, and the race became a neck-and-neck battle. The spectators held their breath as the horses charged toward the finish line. Forte's heart pounded, and he could feel the determination of his jockey urging him forward.

“In a display of pure grit and determination, Forte found another burst of energy. With every ounce of strength in his powerful legs, he surged ahead, crossing the finish line in a triumphant burst of speed. The cheers from the crowd were deafening as Forte was declared the winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes!

“Mr. Anderson, tears of joy streaming down his face, rushed to embrace his beloved stallion. The victory was not just a testament to Forte's exceptional talent but also a celebration of the incredible bond between a horse and his owner. Forte had earned his place in racing history as one of the greatest champions of all time.

“The Jim Dandy Stakes victory was a turning point in Forte's career. He went on to win many more prestigious races, solidifying his status as a legendary racehorse. His story inspired generations of racing enthusiasts, and his name became synonymous with greatness.

“As the sun set on the day of the Jim Dandy Stakes, Forte stood proudly in his stable, bathed in the golden light of his accomplishments. He had proven that with courage, dedication, and a heart of a champion, any dream could be realized – a true testament to the spirit of horse racing and the indomitable Forte.”

So he is owned by Mr. Richard Anderson and his jockey is an experienced rider named Mike. Okay. And where was Todd Pletcher, Mike Repole, Irtad Ortiz Jr. and the DQ that was not? But I'm sure Repole and Pletcher will be pleased to know that Forte's “story inspired generations of racing enthusiasts, and his name became synonymous with greatness.”

Secretariat wins the Belmont. But where is Henry? | Bob Coglianese photo

Okay, so maybe ChaptGPT just had a bad day. I decided to give it another chance, asking it to write a story explaining why Secretariat was such a great horse. Bet you didn't know that much of Secretariat's success was due to his unmistakable bond with his caretaker Henry. Who?

“But it wasn't just his physical attributes that set him apart; it was his unique relationship with his caretaker, Henry, a wise and gentle stable hand,” the AI-generated story read. “Henry had spent his entire life working with horses, and he had a special connection with these noble creatures. He treated them with respect and love, understanding that their greatness came not just from their physical abilities but from the bond they formed with those who cared for them. With Secretariat, he saw something extraordinary—an intelligence and understanding that went beyond the ordinary.”

Two stories, both ridiculous. I'm here to stay. In fact, maybe it's time to ask for a raise.

The post Is AI About to Steal My Job? Not So Fast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Quality Of Frozen Semen Affected By Stallion Age And Breed

A study out of Australia has found that semen from Arabian stallions withstands the freezing and thawing cycle used in artificial insemination (AI) better than semen from Icelandic, Quarter Horse or Warmblood breeds.

Drs. Jörg Aurich, Juliane Kuhl, Alexander Tichy and Christine Aurich, from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, examined the semen quality of 1,012 frozen and thawed samples from 134 stallions of five different breeds. They calculated the acceptable percentage of ejaculates for AI as well as the doses available.

The researchers found that the most important variable was sperm motility before freezing: The higher this number, the more likely quality post-thaw semen would be found. Thawed semen is considered acceptable for insemination when the sperm's ability to swim in a straight line or in large circles is 35 percent or higher.

The age of the stallion was also an important parameter; there was a marked decrease in acceptable ejaculates in stallions over 9. The researchers suggest that stallions with high breeding values used in competitions should be collected while they are younger and not after they have retired from the competition ring.

While Arabian stallions had above-average acceptable ejaculates, Icelandic and Quarter Horse stallions had below-average ejaculates. Warmblood and Lipizzaner stallions had average numbers. The researchers note that this suggests a genetic basis for semen cryotolerance.

Total sperm count was the most important variable determining the number of doses of semen obtained. Stallions with good semen quality are more likely to yield acceptable semen after thawing, but good sperm motility in raw semen doesn't always correlate to post-thaw semen quality.

The scientists concluded that there are individual stallions that have semen that does not freeze well, though their raw semen is high quality.