A GUIDE TO

Stride Data

What is Stride Data?

Stride Data is our most detailed insight into how a horse travels from the start of a race to the end. A horse’s speed is determined by how many strides it takes, and how much ground it covers with each stride. By analysing the oscillations in the GPS tracking data of each horse, we can determine both of the above, and therefore how they have galloped through each furlong in a race.

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The benefits of Stride Data

By understanding how a horse physically travels from the start to the end of a race, we can unlock why a race may have been suitable or not. We gain valuable information about whether horses prefer to quicken at the end of a race because they can turn their stride over faster, or whether they perform better when allowed to make use of their stride through a race.

As the database grows, we’re also looking forward to exploring the pattern between how horses physically adapt between tracks, and in what way a horse’s stride is affected by breeding, going, and stamina. These, layered with all of our other RaceiQ metrics, will bring a different level of understanding when searching for a horse’s optimal conditions and how to maximise its potential.

Why is Stride Data so popular?

Ultimately, the more ground a horse covers with each stride, the faster it can travel. And the faster it can turn its stride over, the faster it will go. Every horse will be different, but its stride profile can help us form a subjective opinion about why a race may or may not have suited, and what race might suit next time.

Before the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024, Racing TV’s Angus McNae highlighted his concern about City Of Troy’s suitability for the dirt track at Del Mar. This was because he felt that his long stride would cause him to get stuck in the mud. Especially as he showed signs in the 2000 Guineas that he couldn’t turn his stride over fast enough to keep up with the early pace. Dirt horses tend to stride faster as they can’t bounce off the ground and use their stride in the same way as you can on turf. This is how Angus was able to identify why City Or Troy was likely to struggle under the conditions.

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What the experts say

Discover how RaceiQ metrics are elevating broadcast

“There is no such thing as too much data. I’ve been a professional racing analyst for over 20 years, but even experienced eyes will miss plenty of relevant details and nuance. Well harvested data has a great capacity to inform, surprise and improve understanding. Sophisticated utilisation of data is an area that is only going to grow in racing.”