Swiss watchmaker Longines has presented a game-changing development for timekeeping and tracking technology in thoroughbred racing, after unveiling the Longines Positioning System (LPS).
During a press conference held in the Longines Owners Pavilion at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, it was announced that the new LPS technology was officially installed and used for the first time at Saturday 11 April’s Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day, the second day of The Championships held in April.
Longines has an illustrious history in equestrian timekeeping dating back to 1878. The innovative new LPS incorporates a permanent or portable, easily deployable system that sets a new standard for accurate, reliable and repeatable timekeeping and tracking results that will provide huge benefit to both the thoroughbred industry and enthusiasts.
Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and Head of International Marketing of Longines said: “For Longines, investing technological advancements is the latest step in our long term relationship with horse racing. The Longines Positioning System delivers a number of benefits to the sport and is a game-changer for the racing industry.
“Whether you are a horseracing enthusiast, a world renowned jockey or a TV broadcaster, access to more accurate, flexible data allows you to understand, share and act on the intricacies of performance as never before. We are excited to see how the LPS technology can be utilised in the future to improve the experience for racing spectators, TV viewers and even smart phone and tablet users. There is no question that live performance data enhances viewing experience and depth of understanding. Understanding leads to improvement, and improvement leads to winning: for all.”
Mr. Darren Pearce, CEO of the Australian Turf Club said: “The Australian Turf Club is honoured to see this innovative technology installed at Royal Randwick Racecourse and used for the very first time at the Championships Day 2 – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day. The ability to more accurately and repeatedly track real-time performance data is very exciting for horseracing, and the LPS system has the potential to benefit our members, racegoers, racing professionals and punters.
The LPS tracking and timing provides instant data on the exact position of horses during a race, race rankings, the distance between horses and speed. It boasts accuracy down to 5 centimetres and features up to 1,000 measurements per second.
In a further major announcement, Longines confirmed that it has also become the Official Partner, Official Timekeeper and Official Watch for Rosehill Gardens, specifically for the prominent Longines Golden Slipper Carnival from 2016. Longines have secured naming rights for this esteemed day and thrilling feature race, the Longines Golden Slipper – the richest race in the world for two year olds.
This landmark partnership further solidifies Longines’ commitment to thoroughbred racing in Sydney.
Longines’ passion for equestrian sport dates back to 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and his mount. Seen on the racetracks as early as 1881 and extremely popular among jockeys and horse-lovers, this model enabled its user to time performances to the seconds.
Today Longines’ involvement in equestrian sports includes show-jumping, flat racing and eventing competitions. Longines chose to support equestrian sports as a perfect illustration of tradition, performance and elegance, which are the key values of the brand.
Longines is proud to be the Official Partner and Official Watch of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and to lend its name to the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings and the Longines World’s Best Jockey Rankings.
www.ifhaonline.org
