Trakus system to debut in Europe

Trakus, the innovative video system that displays the virtual position

of the runners, in real time, alongside the telecast of a live race, will debut

outside of North America for the first time at the 2008 August meeting at

Deauville, France Galop announced Thursday. Already in place at Keeneland, Del

Mar and Woodbine, Trakus will be up and running when the Deauville meet opens

August 2. The launch of Trakus at Deauville requires three months of installation,

from mid-April to mid-July.

"The French horse racing industry is always

advancing," said Thierry Delegue, acting director general of France Galop. "For

example, we are the sport that has made the greatest effort to combat doping and

illegal medications. Over the course of the last 50 years, we have introduced

video replays, and racing was the first sport to incorporate digital

photography. We were at the forefront of innovation by adding artificial

surfaces.

"Installation of the Trakus system is a yet another proof of our desire

to present new ideas," he continued. "The entire public, the industry professionals and seasoned

bettors, will benefit. For us, Trakus is a strategic tactic to develop a new

audience."

With as many as 20 runners, following the action can be even more

difficult in Europe than in the United Nations, but, by displaying icons bearing the

numbers of each competitor, a spectator can easily identify his or her horse

within the group.

The icons, or chicklets, move in coordination with the horses, and spectators

can track the exact position of their horses in real time and at every angle,

whether it is on the giant screen, the closed-circuit monitor at the track, on

TV at home or via a personal digital assistant (PDA). Trakus also details a

horse's speed at various points of call, the average speed and the distance

traveled.

Eric Brion, CEO of the French racing network Equidia, remarked, "Last

year, we did a study on the impressions of our on-track tele-spectators. Many

said that the body of the race was hard to watch. Even those who are seasoned

bettors had difficulty following a particular horse in a group. Trakus brings us

the solution that we are looking for. It is a huge technological leap for horse

racing."