With Royal Ascot less than a week away, officials at the course have announced that the track will become the first in the UK to publish live weather data via an innovative new app developed by the Cambridgeshire-based TurfTrax.
Information including rainfall, wind speed and direction, soil moisture and daily evapotranspiration (moisture loss) will be available to view in real-time for the first time alongside GoingStick readings, going maps, rail positions and irrigation in the build-up to and during Royal Ascot.
The live data is gathered from WeatherTrax, the latest version of TurfTrax’s on-course weather stations, and is processed using bespoke software which integrates GoingStick readings, the TurfTrax course mapping system and weather information in a single user-friendly display.
Chris Stickles, Clerk of the Course at Ascot, said: “We are delighted to be able to roll-out this ground-breaking new service for Royal Ascot 2020.
“With racing taking place behind closed doors there will be fewer people this year with access to the track and, therefore, the distribution of up to the minute information takes on even greater significance.
“Trainers, owners and everyone watching from home will have the opportunity to monitor track conditions remotely in real time using the new racing hub on the Ascot Racecourse website.
TurfTrax Managing Director Mike Maher added: “We developed the app to provide racecourses with a resource that can display complex and detailed ground and weather information in an easy-to access format, and we are delighted that Ascot has chosen such a prestige occasion for its launch.
“In conjunction with Chris and the team at Ascot we have been working on this project for some time. For example, we have compiled three years’ worth of soil moisture data and compared this to GoingStick readings, weather data and other raceday information to verify the accuracy and relevance of this new measurement, but this is the first time it will be made available to horsemen and the wider public on demand.”
