AI on the Track: How Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Horse Racing and Sports Betting

There have been few faster-growing trends in modern times than the reliance on and importance of artificial intelligence (AI).

The technology is now being widely used across the globe in various sectors, with the tool even being accessed daily by the average person. There has become a reliance on AI to find information quickly, which means it is no surprise that the technology has enjoyed success in the betting sector.

Betting on horse racing can often be challenging, as gamblers will need to delve through a lot of data to ensure that they can make accurate predictions.

Therefore, it is no surprise that many have opted to use AI to make picks on the Breeders’ Cup prep races. However, how does AI work when it comes to making sports betting picks, and is there a positive success rate when it comes to finding winners?

What Is AI?

AI is one of the most technologically advanced tools available on the web, with the technology enabling machines to exhibit human-like intelligence, allowing them to think, learn, and solve problems just as a human would.

One of the key strengths of AI is its ability to process vast amounts of data and find patterns to make decisions. Like humans, AI will develop over time as it is asked more questions, gathering enhanced data to make more informed decisions.

One of the key strengths of AI is its ability to process vast amounts of data and find patterns to make decisions. Like humans, AI will develop over time as it is asked more questions, gathering enhanced data to make more informed decisions.

How Does AI Work in Betting?

Given the vast amount of data that AI relies on to give predictable outcomes, it is no surprise that there is a connection with sports betting. When betting on events, a gambler will need to research and sift through vast amounts of stats to make reliable selections.

While that is the case for all sports, it is undoubtedly most important when making bets on horse racing. AI can be used to complete the vast majority of the research for a bettor, taking into account the form of the runners, the strike-rate of the trainers and jockey, and previous race trends. Therefore, the technology can be used to provide a more accurate representation of how a race may unfold, giving the bettor an advantage over the sportsbook.

One of the key strengths of using the tool to find betting angles is that AI can identify areas of potential value that bookmakers’ odds may have overlooked. Patterns that are easy to identify for AI may be more challenging to detect with the human eye, as people are prone to making mistakes and overlooking certain information. Therefore, using AI could be beneficial to a bettor, especially when it comes to a second opinion on an event.

Are There Issues With Using AI For Sports Betting?

Like all forms of technology, relying on AI for sports betting selections still has its negatives. For example, human input is still required when betting on racing, as AI will not take into account runners that have underperformed due to circumstances beyond their control.

For example, if a horse is boxed in and unable to give their running and finishes fourth, then the AI will not take that key piece of information into account when giving their analysis. Many expert bettors will still conduct their own research, as the eye-test may still be worth more than any form in the book.

Bettors will be able to identify horses that are quickly improving, whereas AI will analyze the numbers without considering the actual performances on track. Furthermore, AI tends to favor the pre-race favorite when asked to predict a potential race result. This will typically offer no value to the bettor, especially considering how unpredictable racing can be.

Therefore, shock victories, such as Rich Strike’s 80/1 success in the Kentucky Derby, and Nick Rockett’s victory at 33/1 in the Grand National, wouldn’t have been flagged up as likely win angles by the technology.

Finding The Perfect Balance

The key to using AI successfully when making sports bets will rely on combining the technology with a bettor's own research, rather than relying solely on one system to find a winner.

This is something echoed by Scotty McKeever, who told the BBC that AI tools such as EquinEdge are a helpful tool, but only when the user utilizes the metrics. The tool provides information about each horse in a race, including ideal track conditions, distance, and stride patterns.

However, this information will need to be interpreted by the bettor to make the best selection possible. Therefore, to use AI to make successful bets, the user must also have in-depth knowledge of the sport that they are wagering on.