Equibase Company, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information, has launched a new performance-based horse rating that can be used to provide more options for tracks to consider when developing race conditions. The first race using the Equibase Rating will be run on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita.

The Equibase Rating – which provides an algorithmically generated predictive performance score based solely on race outcomes and measurable factors such as speed, race strength, track conditions, and trip factors – was developed with the input of industry stakeholders with the goal of simplifying conditions, improving race competitiveness, and creating larger fields.

“This has been a truly collaborative effort to improve race competitiveness and give horsemen additional options to complement claiming, especially for horses that have run through their conditions,” said Kyle McDoniel, president and COO for Equibase. “We are happy to partner with 1/ST to card the first race at Santa Anita and are excited about the interest already being generated by the new rating. I’d like to thank all of the participants in our various advisory groups who provided input from perspectives of racing offices, owners, trainers, breeders, and handicappers as well as other jurisdictions outside of the U.S.”

As we’ve seen in international racing, a rating system provides horsemen and women more clarity in selecting a race for their horses,” said Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST. “Currently, the closest comparable option only exists with claiming races, whereas if you want a horse to run with others of similar class, you have to put them up for sale, which is counter-productive to owners and trainers investing long-term in their horses.  We believe the introduction of the rating system to US racing will translate to horses running more often, leading to larger fields with increased wagering opportunities for our horseplayers.”

The Equibase Rating is calculated through an algorithm that factors in race records, performance analytics, and historical data from racetracks. It is different from the Equibase Speed Figure, which measures how fast a horse has been running in its past races with a single number and is based on the horse’s actual time in combination with the condition of the track.

The Equibase Rating will be incorporated into racetrack condition books for race planning and are available on equibase.com next to the horse’s name in entries, statistical profiles, and past performances. More information on the Equibase Rating can be found here.