All eyes turn to Keeneland next month. Meanwhile, vendors are working overtime to maximise the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. A new initiative adopted by EQUIX is its GaitCam and Yearling Marketing Program.

In combination they are quite an innovative approach to selling and purchasing yearlings.

Like Sirecam which has found such success in the Southern Hemisphere, EQUIX GaitCam is a high speed, digital video of a yearling's gait. The EQUIX video is slower to load than Sirecam's (even with a high speed broadband connection) BUT the front view video is by far the best I have come across in terms of clarity and the clearly differentiated area in which the horse is walked which allows much closer examination of conformation/gait.

The GaitCam website as well as the consigners website list the videos. The video can be viewed in real time, slow motion format or paused with absolute clarity. In addition the website specifies the yearling's Athletic Potential Analysis, Optimal Racing Distance, Phenotype and the catalogue page.

It's quite a unique package. To see an example click here. The colt that features in this example is by Street Cry out of Purr Pleasure (by El Gran Senor).

"The Yearling Marketing Program along with the GaitCam enhances the yearling sales experience for both consigners and buyers. We believe that by providing key information on the yearling along with the ability to view the yearlings gait, via the internet, will enhance the Sales experience and may attract additional buyers to the sale," says Dennis Antolik, EQUIX President. "Further, everyone in the thoroughbred industry wants to create as buyer friendly environment as possible. We believe that more information buyers have the more comfortable they will feel as they participate in these sales."

Those interested in additional material can also check the EQUIX website.