Dynamic Race Management System for Thoroughbred Entry Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current entry process for thoroughbred racing, relying on the condition book, is inadequate due to its inability to adapt to industry conditions, leading to uncertainty for trainers and owners, resulting in reduced race starts, smaller field sizes, and decreased betting interest, ultimately affecting the racetrack's revenue.
Innovation Solution
A race management system that allows trainers to tentatively enter horses into races, prioritizing them based on field size, and constructs a one-day Tentative Entry List (TEL) to provide a more proactive approach to race scheduling, ensuring more certainty about race fillings and optimizing horse performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the condition book is used to project races two to four weeks in advance, then trainers can plan their entries ahead of time, but the condition book cannot adapt to changing industry conditions resulting in uncertainty about race fillings
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static condition book published two to four weeks in advance to a dynamic TEL that updates in real-time as entries are received. The TEL can be modified up to race day based on actual entry numbers, making the race schedule adaptive rather than fixed. This allows the system to maintain advance planning benefits while adapting to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by allowing trainers to indicate interest in races before the TEL is finalized. Trainers can submit preliminary entries and the system can project probable race cards in advance while still allowing modifications later. This preliminary action phase enables planning while preserving flexibility for later adjustments based on actual entry responses.
2Adaptability or versatility
If trainers keep horses ready at all times due to uncertainty about race fillings, then horses can be entered into races that fill, but trainers cannot condition horses to optimum performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a low-cost, easily modifiable digital TEL format instead of the traditional printed condition book. This allows the TEL to be updated and redistributed quickly and cheaply as entries come in, enabling frequent revisions without significant cost. The digital format can be modified up to race day, providing flexibility without the waste and delay of reprinting physical books.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where entry numbers are continuously monitored and used to adjust the TEL. As trainers submit entries, the system updates the TEL to reflect actual field sizes and race probabilities. This feedback mechanism allows trainers to make informed decisions about horse conditioning and entry timing based on real-time data rather than static projections.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the race office publishes a fixed condition book, then the race schedule is stable, but field sizes become small when horses are insufficient resulting in reduced betting interest
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the static condition book with a dynamic TEL that automatically adjusts as entries are received. The TEL can expand or contract based on actual entry numbers, allowing field sizes to grow when sufficient horses are available while maintaining schedule stability through the structured update process. This dynamic approach prevents the need to cancel races due to insufficient entries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of race schedule rigidity from fixed to flexible. The TEL can be modified in terms of content and timing based on entry responses, allowing field sizes to adjust dynamically. This parameter change enables the system to maintain stable race scheduling while accommodating variations in horse availability and field size.
Data Source
AI summary
A race management system is described. In one aspect, a race is chosen and an interested/committed selection is made. If “interested” is selected, the race management system prioritizes races, updates and displays a race menu, and updates and displays an interested/committed list. A TEL (Tentative Entry List) database can notify trainers when they have horses that are interested in a race that has made the TEL. Updates are sent to and/or received from the TEL database. If “committed” is selected, the race management system executes similar steps as if “interested” was selected. In another aspect, a one-day TEL template is uploaded, protocol races are inserted into the template, and prioritized races are transferred from the TEL database to the template. Based on this prioritization, the one-day TEL is constructed.