by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Buoyed by a sensational 27 percent increase in all-sources handle for the 2013 live harness racing meet over the previous year, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino has now set sail on providing the most accurate past performance lines in harness racing history for the upcoming 2014 live harness meet.

Along with the recent addition of Trakus, the automated racehorse tracking system, Hoosier Park is now proud to offer racing fans and handicappers a rich mix of new and traditional racing and handicapping information. With the assistance of the Trakus data feed, Hoosier Park now offers race charts that give the best and most accurate data to handicappers.

With the launch of this revolutionary system, Hoosier Park not only became the only harness track in North America to use the Trakus system, but will now be the only harness track in North America to incorporate state-of-the-art technology into the production of the most consistent and accurate charts in harness racing.

In a sport where facts and figures are crucial, the Trakus data feed will now supply a comprehensive, instantaneous digital record of the full field at each point of call during a race, ultimately to be displayed in the Hoosier Park official charts. By utilizing the Trakus data, much of the subjectivity of chart calling has been eliminated and replaced with objectivity.

The Trakus technology will greatly reduce the challenges traditionally presented to chart callers. The Trakus data will now put quantitative fact behind handicapper’s longtime use of observational chart calling.

The Trakus data is compiled using wireless communications to track electronic tags fitted into each horses’ saddlecloth to determine the position and speed of each horse in the race in real-time. Trakus is also able to determine the exact distance, in feet, each horse traveled during a race from gate to wire and how long it took for the horse to complete that distance, taking “trip handicapping” to the next level.

“Following the successful introduction of the Trakus system here at Hoosier Park, we have been eagerly waiting to expand this ever-increasing menu of racing information and handicapping tools for our handicappers of all skill levels,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manger of Racing Rick Moore noted. “This is just another innovation embraced by Hoosier Park in our continued effort to deliver the best experience and information to our customers.”

Trakus gives serious handicappers an added edge when evaluating horses’ racing styles and progress. Serious handicappers now have access to a variety of new resources, including exclusive speed and distance measurements all collected via the state-of-the-art Trakus tracking system.

All of the Trakus handicapping information has been readily made available on the Hoosier Park website located at www.hoosierpark.com under the Trakus tab.

Now in its 21st season of live racing, Hoosier Park is set to begin live racing on Friday (March 28) with a new daily post time of 5:15 p.m. (EDT). Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Friday/Saturday schedule the opening week, a Thursday, Friday, Saturday schedule the second week and then resume a Tuesday through Saturday schedule throughout the remainder of the meet. With an extended stakes schedule offered for the first time, the live racing season will be conducted through Nov. 15.