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EquiTrace Technology on Display at Fasig-Tipton July

Buyers and sellers on site this week at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks may have noticed signage for a fast-growing company called EquiTrace. Launched in 2019, the EquiTrace App not only identifies horses with the use of a microchip scanner, but also provides management and traceability solutions for horse farms and equine organizations.

Dr. Kevin Corley, a veterinary specialist in equine medicine and critical care, was one of the key founders of EquiTrace and said that the idea for the product stemmed from the industry's inefficiencies with identifying horses that have led to several high-profile mix-ups in recent years. As EquiTrace developed further, it expanded from not only an identification method, but also a management tool for farm managers, trainers and other equine-related organizations.

“As we launched EquiTrace, we started with the foundation of identification and then worked to address other issues including traceability, medication and what happens to a horse after racing,” Corley explained. “We've worked to build a system that provides real value to the people using it, but also has side benefits of helping the whole industry.”

EquiTrace was first launched in Europe and has been incorporated into many leading stud farms there, but it is now gaining traction in the U.S. and has been put to use at top farms in Kentucky, including Lane's End Farm. The product has already been used at Goffs Bloodstock Sales, but Fasig-Tipton is the first Thoroughbred auction house in the U.S. to partner with EquiTrace. At the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of All Ages and the Selected Yearlings Sales, all incoming horses were identified and checked in via the EquiTrace App.

Fasig-Tipton's Anna Seitz was the first member of Fasig-Tipton's team to learn about the product. She admitted that she had initial reservations, but was eager to learn more as soon as she saw the app in action.

“I brought everyone in from Fasig-Tipton and showed it to them,” she said. “We all said that we had to get behind this right away because this is something that should have happened 10 years ago. It's cutting edge and it's a really positive thing for the industry. I truly believe that it's something we're all going to be using in the next couple of years. They've been an awesome company to work with and we're very happy to be partnering with them.”

“I think for Fasig-Tipton, it produces a system where they can 100% stand by it and make everything more efficient for checking horses in,” Corley added. “You've got a verifiable chain of how this horse was identified by this person at this time. It speeds up the process of making sure the right horse goes into the sales ring.”

The EquiTrace App works through the use of microchips, which are required by The Jockey Club for all registered Thoroughbred foals of 2017 and later. With the use of a scanner, the app quickly identifies the horse and pulls up its profile. From there, various pieces of information can be traced and recorded for that horse.

“We're trying to produce really useful tools to capture information that everyone needs to manage an efficient farm or training facility right at the sight of the horse,” Corley said. “Every time you scan the microchip, the app captures its GPS location. If you scan a horse when it comes off the van, you have a complete movement record for the horse. One of our clients was called about a foal and he just looked the horse up in the app and could tell the vet which barn to go to.”

Medical records can be maintained on each horse's page. EquiTrace recognizes over 1,000 products through the scan of the medication's barcode. Veterinarians and managers can enter the necessary treatment for a horse. As approved staff scans the horse, they will see the exact medication required along with its dosage and suggested withdrawal time. Users can choose the state jurisdictions they race under to adjust medication guidelines.

Reproductive records can also be traced through the app. Farm managers can maintain notes on each mare's profile as the mare is examined. That information is then easily accessible to other farm staff looking for up-to-date information on the horse.

While all of this data is accessible for horses with any type of microchip, further information can be tracked from horses with the Merck Animal Health Bio-Thermo Microchip, which contains a biosensor that measures a horse's body temperature.

“This is a really powerful tool because at just the stroke of a microchip scanner, people can get the temperature of their horse and the data is captured immediately onto the app,” Corley explained. “As an internal medicine specialist, that excites me because we're all facing a staffing shortage and it's really hard to take temperatures twice a day. With this system, it's very practical and there are no errors. One of our clients said they recorded 18 temperatures in a minute and 19 seconds.”

Looking ahead to the long-term benefits of EquiTrace, Corley said he believe expanded use within the industry will improve traceability of horses once they are retired from racing.

The approximate cost of the app is $2 per horse each month, with discounts available for farms with larger numbers.

“The idea is to give tools to the industry that help them at what is hopefully a price that everyone can afford,” Corley noted. “We've been delighted with the initial uptake in the States and we're working to continue to further that.”

To learn more about EquiTrace, click here.

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Sherri Ivanovich Promoted to Gainesway Farm Manager

Sherri Ivanovich, who has been with Gainesway Farm as yearling manager for two decades, has been named the Kentucky nursery's farm manager.

“I have worked with Sherri for over 30 years and she is the epitome of hard work and dedication,” said Brian Graves, Gainesway's general manager. “A great deal of any success we've had is a direct result of Sherri's support, and her commitment to excellence. I am very excited to promote her to this role at Gainesway.”

The farm said in a press release that her leadership has been integral to the organization's growth and success as both a leading farm and sales consignor. Prior to her time at Gainesway, Ivanovich was in the role of farm manager at 505 Farm.

“Sherri has been an integral part of the Gainesway family for many years and we are fortunate to have someone with her knowledge and expertise watching over many of the important operations here at the farm,” said Gainesway CEO Antony Beck.

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Global Views: Ideas to Ease the Workforce Crisis

In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. First-year trainee Devon Dougherty looks at ways in which the worldwide Thoroughbred industry is addressing its workforce crises.

A dwindling labor force will suffocate the American industry if the current climate does not change. How will we continue to race and breed Thoroughbreds in America when there is no viable workforce left? This question has long weighed on my mind. The racetrack was practically in my backyard growing up, as I lived only a mile away, and I was a weekly racegoer. However, from a young age, it was apparent to me that there was a stark contrast between myself and the others at the track. The typical fan, owner, trainer, and stable employee were easily double my age. As I have gotten older and worked as an assistant trainer and more recently as a trainee in the Godolphin Flying Start programme, the reality has remained the same: those in the business in America are getting older, and not enough qualified horsemen are entering the game. The cry for more employees can be heard from coast to coast, from trainers to farm managers alike. Many trainers have recalled futile attempts to obtain and retain employees, and now are struggling greatly due to the increasing strain of ICE immigration laws, visa bans, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue is truly universal; as the sport battles other issues, this one has been worsening in plain sight across all facets of the industry.

Most farms and tracks in America rely predominantly on an immigrant workforce to satisfy its needs and to care for horses. But in recent times, non-American employees have dwindled in numbers. This population has been hindered due to new immigration laws, which have included I-9 investigations and the possibility of ICE barn raids, leading to a growing fear within this population and a struggle to employ immigrants up to standard. Moreover, the H2-B visa program began to come under pressure “when the federal government suspended all permits for foreign workers wanting jobs in the United States in June of 2020.” This has made it increasingly difficult to address the staffing crisis. As the lack of willing and skilled horsemen from the American population continues to decline, it is unlikely that vacant jobs will be filled. Extreme working conditions, long hours, low wages, and the danger inherent in working with Thoroughbreds also stack up against the sport. The average day caring for horses in America starts before dawn, and the days prove to be long and taxing. The working conditions can be harsh, with no relief from inclement or extreme weather. On top of that, entry level workers may not be experienced enough to handle Thoroughbreds due to lack of access to skills training and will be overwhelmed and leave to find a lower-risk job elsewhere. Few days off and lack of holiday vacations could drive newcomers away. Finally, the hardest sell to most new hires or potential employees in the industry is the low wages, often around minimum wage, and lack of benefits offered to most workers.

Being selected for the Godolphin Flying Start course has been a great privilege and stepping stone to my educational experience in the global Thoroughbred industry. Thus far in the course I have been able to witness different industry models in Ireland and in England. Moreover, I have learned a great deal about the initiatives brought about by professionals in these countries to attempt to add breadth and depth to the global workforce. Additionally, I have gained an insight into Godolphin's charitable initiatives team and their efforts to bring issues to the forefront and to offer long-term goals and solutions for pressing industry matters.

During these trying times, perhaps the United States should seek to follow the lead of other industries that are striving and making headway to maintain employment levels. In 2020, Horse Racing Ireland released Employment Guidelines for those seeking new hires and to lessen employee turnover. Among the major points, HRI highlighted a section on “managing people and the employment relationship,” which included wage guidelines, weekend working hours, holiday hours, and sick leave, among other topics. In addition, HRI implemented several new programmes to enhance employment as well. Most notably, they have launched Equuip, which is the education and training department within their corporation. They have initiated a “Work in Racing” entry level employee training program, for those needing to learn the practical skills necessary to enter an entry level position working with horses. In comparison, the American industry has worked to bring newcomers into the business though programs such as the Kentucky Equine Management Internship and the North American Riding Academy, which are both based in Kentucky, and most recently, Amplify Horse Racing.

A major turning point in the conversation of U.S. labor issues came during Godolphin's Forum for Education Discovery Day. This event took place on November 2019, in Newmarket, England, and included several leading industry nations, such as France, Ireland, Japan, and England. Global industries converged to discuss the health and well-being of our sport. Among the conversation points, the U.S. noted their challenges to include “a workforce shortage, along with industry fragmentation, a declining foal crop, and public perception.” Similar workforce issues were echoed by Australia and France as well. As a result of this forum, the U.S. representation highlighted the need for “a national equine workforce coalition,” which could help to assuage the pressure put on managers and trainers to fulfill everyday duties. Like the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act, which will add national uniformity to the rules and regulations of horse racing from coast to coast, the workforce in American racing, breeding, and bloodstock could benefit from a similar system as well.

New solutions must come to the forefront to ensure the health of our Thoroughbred horses. Trainers and farms will be forced to downsize if the labor force cannot accommodate the scale of our sport. We are reaching our breaking point as an industry, from ICE immigration laws, travel bans during the COVID-19 pandemic, non-competitive working conditions with other American jobs, and the lack of recruitment avenues for new hires. A national body to oversee and improve working conditions is the first step to add awareness and to entice newcomers to enter our industry. A national representative body to recruit and monitor employment needs for industry entities would provide relief to those who are struggling to keep our industry thriving. The employment crisis is not going away in America, and time is of the essence to bring positive change to our employment system.

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