PUNTERS betting on New South Wales racing will get game-changing information when Longines release their Positioning System (LPS) in a fortnight.
LPS is a tracking and timing device which according to Longines provides “the exact position of horses during a race, race rankings, the distance between horses and speed [of each runner]”.
It had been introduced during The Championships at Randwick last April, but there were a plethora of problems which caused an indefinite delay.
“It’s a wireless system so interference has been the biggest problem,” Australian Turf Club CEO Darren Pearce said. “Randwick is surrounded by tense activity with the TAFE, hospital, university and being part of the flight path.
“We had to relocate some poles and reconfigure some wiring. We always knew that it would be a challenge but we’re on top of it now and in good shape going forward.”
The Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW teamed up to work on the implementation of the system, which should be available within the next two weeks.
“Randwick has been operational for the past two meetings,” Pearce said. “We’ve been doing final de-bugging and programming but it has been working.
“We anticipate from the fifth of December it will be fully serviceable in terms of on screen and with published reports after the races.
“Rosehill has been fully installed. It worked last Saturday without failure so there’s every chance we’ll be launching that within the next couple of meetings.”
Canterbury and Warwick Farm will also use the LPS system via a relocatable system which is part of the Racing NSW rollout.
“Because we use the same software and technology it will ensure the information is consistent,” Pearce said.
“How the information appears on screen, the report format and graphics for the screen.”
Punters will also get the use of an app, which provides punters with instant access to the LPS information.
“The app will allow access to data in real time or as close as possible to real time,” Pearce said.
“The aim is to give punters the very best data for NSW racing and Sydney racing in particular.”
In an age where punters can get information at their fingertips online, Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys is confident the LPS system will be a game changer for horse racing bettors.
“We’re going to input this system to 20 racecourses throughout New South Wales,” V’landys said.
“We’re testing it at Scone. Once it’s been tested it will be rolled out pretty quickly.
“It’s going to give punters information they’ve never had before.
“You’ll be able to time every horse. Record any horse at any time over any distance. Whatever you want – final 200 metre, final 400 metres, final 600 metres.
“It will tell you what distance the horse has covered. Sometimes a horse may cover 30-metres more by racing wide than the horse on the inside does.
“It will also be able to tell you the acceleration of a horse, the speed a horse is travelling.”
We will keep punters updated as to the release date of the LPS system in the coming weeks.
