E-Trakka is a new innovation in the science of training racehorses that inventor Andrew Stuart has spent more than a decade developing.

E-Trakka measures heart rate and velocity whilst the horse is in training in order to determine fitness. It utilises a GPS-based velocity meter coupled with a heart rate monitor embedded into a specially designed saddle blanket.

The ability to measure a horse's fitness during training is a valuable indicator of the horse's racing ability and a tool for the early detection of lameness, disease and poor physiological potential. Heart rate is a measurement that determines the capacity of an individual horse to perform in races and has been shown to have a high correlation with oxygen uptake. Oxygen uptake is the ultimate measure of aerobic energy supply, that shows the ability of the horse to use oxygen to support the demands of exercise.

The E-trakka comprises:

- A saddle blanket with a data processor which includes a heart-rate monitor, a GPS system, a processing unit and a radio modulator. The saddle blanket also contains the power source.
- Linked to the blanket are 2 electrodes which pick up the horse's heart-rate.
- A GPS antenna which fits into a pocket on the jockey's cap and links back to the blanket.
- A download modem and the software to interpret the information.
- Small 'on board' display panel which can alternately provide the jockey with a heart-rate reading or a velocity reading. This device can be mounted on the bridle between the horse's ears or worn on the jockey's arm or leg.

The saddle blanket contains a battery powered data processing unit. This processor consists of a heart-rate monitor, a GPS system, a small computer processing unit and a radio modulator.

Data is fed to the processor from the following sources:
- 2 electrodes which are placed on the horses body to measure heart-rate.
- An antenna in the jockey's cap with relays GPS information.

The GPS system in the blanket is used to calculate the velocity of the horse. It is also able to provide data on the position of the horse on the track.

The heart-rate and velocity readings are processed and relayed back to a trackside computer via the radio link. Specially designed software interprets the data to produce a fitness score through a specially devised equation:

Velocity/Heart-rate Max = Fitness Score

A low performing horse might have a fitness score around 45, and a high performing horse would be somewhere around 62 or 63.

This gives the trainer a simple scale for determining changes in the horse's level of fitness. At the end of the training session the computer compiles a second by second account of the horses performance. Changes in performance from one session to another can be easily tracked, alerting the trainer to early signs of illness.

TIMING: Because the GPS can provide information on the horse's location as well as its speed it is possible for the computer to give timings over certain parts of the course; the last 600m for example. This eliminates the need to try to clock the time with a stopwatch.

"SPEEDO": The saddle blanket also links to an 'on-board' readout for the jockey. This small device, mounted on the bridle or worn by the jockey can provide constantly updated readings for either velocity or heart-rate. The jockey can toggle between the two.

How does it prevent injury?

By first determining the average speed of a particular horse over a few training sessions you will come up with data and a fitness score that represents 'normal' performance for that horse.

Small variations in this performance can then be statistically analysed. If the horse's performance drops it could be an early indication that the horse has an illness or may be starting to go lame. For example a higher heart-rate at a certain speed would indicate the horse is having to work harder, so there may be something wrong. Physical signs of lameness, i.e. hobbling, would only develop a couple of weeks later, by which time the injury might be much more serious and difficult to treat.

E-Trakka is, I have to say, pretty amazing, and for those that think this has the potential to be just another 'fad' it's worth noting that the project has also involved input from Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), The University of Sydney Veterinary School ( Associate Professor Dr David Evans) and Nature Vet through its High Performance Technology company (NVHPT).

The product will be officially launched at the Magic Million Sales on the Gold Coast in January 2006. The product has already been featured on ABC TV.