Tech Companies to Offer Solutions for Tracks, Horsemen

The horse racing industry will gain access to advanced machine vision technology through a new partnership between Equius AI and global surveillance provider IREX AI, the companies announced Sept. 25.

The collaboration will deliver video intelligence platforms designed for racetracks, training facilities, and equine operations, utilizing IREX's existing security infrastructure currently deployed across 30+ countries at airports, government facilities, transportation networks, and major sporting venues.

The technology suite includes real-time security analytics, fire and smoke detection, crowd monitoring, and biometric access control. Racing-specific applications will encompass individual horse identification, barn entry logging, quarantine compliance monitoring, medication administration oversight, and race-day surveillance.

"Safety isn't just for humans. Horses are sacred, and IREX is committed to protecting them with the same urgency we bring to cities and nations—backed by world-leading technology and a visionary team," said Daniel Eborall, Global Director at IREX. 

Eborall brings extensive experience in sports venue security, having served as the former Head of Security for Texas A&M Athletics where he oversaw Kyle Field—the world's fifth-largest stadium with 110,000 capacity—and directed security operations for the 2018 NCAA Final Four. He holds the distinction of being the first person globally to earn an MBA specializing in Stadium Security Management and has contributed to safety frameworks for FIFA, NFL, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic committees.

"The racing industry, steeped in tradition yet historically underserved by modern technology, is poised for a transformation," said Sobhy Sonbol, founder of Equius AI. "Having the world's leader in machine vision, IREX, bring its solutions to our industry is a win for every stakeholder—for owners, trainers, regulators, and most importantly, the horses themselves.

"What makes this moment unprecedented is that IREX is not just offering existing products—they are committing their resources to build out features specifically for horse racing. That kind of investment from a global technology leader is exactly what our sport has needed."

Developing Racing-Specific Solutions

Equius AI, founded by Sobhy Sonbol of Nile Bloodstock, will work directly with IREX to develop features tailored specifically for racing. The companies plan to collaborate with horsemen, veterinarians, and industry professionals to ensure the technology addresses practical needs across the sport.

The systems will operate through existing CCTV infrastructure and can maintain up to one year of archived footage for compliance and investigation purposes. Features include unauthorized access detection, real-time behavioral alerts, and crowd management tools for race day operations.

Looking ahead, the companies are also developing health monitoring capabilities that leverage computer vision to detect early signs of illness or distress. These include colic detection through monitoring of abnormal behaviors, lameness recognition, and stall behavior analytics that could alert caretakers to emerging health risks before they become critical.

Industry Context

The partnership arrives as racing continues to prioritize safety improvements. According to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), equine fatality rates reached historic lows in 2024, with technology adoption cited as a contributing factor. Under the Safety Runs First campaign, racetracks and regulators have committed to data-driven strategies for injury prevention and equine care.

Equius AI says its machine vision platform complements these efforts by providing additional layers of oversight. The system can detect unauthorized access to restricted areas, generate real-time alerts for unusual behavior, and provide crowd heat maps to assist with event management.

As stakeholders increasingly look to technology to address issues ranging from public safety to equine welfare, the adoption rate of these systems among tracks and training facilities will likely influence their role in future safety and integrity initiatives.