Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used more regularly across most sectors across the world in this modern day, as it is capable of taking in huge amounts of data to give the most accurate result.
Therefore, it is no surprise that a multi-billion dollar industry such as thoroughbred breeding has quickly adapted to using AI to make more knowledgeable choices when sending retired horses to stud.
After all, breeding a future champion could be hugely lucrative, and they will likely go off as short price favorites for major races that can be wagered on here: twinspires.com/edge/racing/wagering/best-bets/.
So,, how is the tech helping sculpt the future of racing?
What is Breeding?
For lifelong fans of racing, they will be familiar with the concept of breeding, as it often revolves around high-quality performers on the track being retired to stud to breed with mares. Genetics of both horses are hugely important to take into account, as the genes of each could make up 50% of the foal.
However, it is common that male horses that performed and won major races will often be worth a lot more after retiring from the track.
Therefore, breeding can typically be a very expensive gamble in the hope of winning major races, just as Sovereignty did when landing the Kentucky Derby in 2025.
AI Helps to Analyse Pedigree
For many years, experts have been tasked with analysis pedigrees to help find the right blend that could produce a champion. But, this is something that AI is now regularly used to aid this process.
The technology can analyse the pedigrees of thousands of horses, taking into account multiple generations of the progeny and helping to identify the key traits and show the potential of a foal. Equine Match has been particularly popular in this regard, as it is able to evaluate the breeding combinations, ultimately showcasing the highest probability of success.
Checkmate is also a popular tool for potential buyers, as this tech can help analyse DNA of horses to help minimalize the risk of inbreeding and aiding the chances of a healthy foal.
Race Potential
Of course, any breeding venture will largely have lofty dreams, with many revolving around winning purses in some of the biggest races. But, even some of the perfectly bred horses have often underperformed on track, leading to expensive gambles going array.
AI is able to help the decision-making process in this regard, as it is quickly able to take into account the performance levels of the stallions and mares to identify the potential of a runner, while also offering an insight as to the kind of distance that a potential foal could excel over.
This is a vitally important piece of knowledge for owners and breeders, as it will ensure that they are able to make more informed decisions and invest in the correct horses.
AI can also be used to help pinpoint potential training methods that will work to best effect for a foal, taking into account the characteristics of their dam and sire.
Aiding Breeding Process
AI isn’t just hugely important when it comes to matching perfect partners for breeding, as it is also able to aid the entire process.
The technology is now readily used across the world to help strategies when breeding horses, giving owners the ability to pick and choose the traits that they wish their foal to have. It is also important when it comes to minimalizing the risks of a foal being born with undesirable traits.
This, along with the previous points, ensures that high-performing racehorses are born every year in this modern day. It is also important for safeguarding horses, as the aiding of the breeding process can ensure that there are reduced rates of foal deaths, which had been an huge issue in the early history of racing.
Not A Complete Science
Breeding is a maze to understand. Even when breeders may feel that they have a champion on their hands, there is always the chance that they may not take to racing. This is reflected by the sheer number of champion thoroughbreds that have failed in their post-racing life as a stallion.
At the end of the day, not every stallion can enjoy the success in their life after racing as stars such as Galileo and Frankel. For every success story, there is also one of disappointment. Among those include Victory Gallop. The 1998 Belmont Stakes winner endured poor fortune as a stallion, sending out just 16 stakes winners before being sold to the Jockey Club of Turkey in 2008.
Meanwhile, Dubawi ranks as one of the most expensive sires at £350,000, but the previous Irish 2,000 Guineas winner is yet to produce a winner of the Epsom Derby. That poor run continued in 2025, as Delacroix was sent off as a hot favourite but could only finish ninth, and was 16 lengths behind Lambourn.
