Original author(s) Platform Android, iOS, Xbox 360 | Development status Active Available in English and Spanish | |
Developer(s) The Jockey Club Technology Services Initial release March 27, 2012; 4 years ago (2012-03-27) | ||
Horse Races Now is a mobile app for horse racing enthusiasts, available for Android, iPhone, iPad, and Xbox 360. It was invented by horse trainer Kenneth McPeek.
Contents
History
Horse Races Now was created to provide comprehensive horse racing video and data for new fans and veteran horseplayers.
Racehorse trainer Kenneth McPeek reported that he came up with the idea for a horse racing app while watching CNBC's Planet of the Apps, a one-hour program that explored the explosion of mobile technology, specifically through phone applications. "During the show, I Googled 'horse racing apps' and there weren't any. I kind of politicked around and checked with some people to see if this was something that was happening. Long and short, I ended up doing it on my own because I just felt like it needed to be done." McPeek started the process of building the app with his former wife, Sue, then brought in Chris Carper, a former Microsoft executive, to largely run the business. Carper serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Horse Races Now.
McPeek's idea for a horse racing app initially met with resistance from a racing industry that didn't see the benefit. “I don’t want to insult anybody,” McPeek said in an interview with Thoroughbred Racing Commentary, “but one major horse racing executive said, ‘Who needs an app?’”
McPeek reported that he has invested more than US$500,000 into the project. Capital to get Horse Races Now off the ground was offset by McPeek's stable, which averaged about $4 million in purse earnings the past six years. The site also lists more than 30 advertisers, many connected to the lucrative Kentucky breeding industry.
McPeek launched Horse Races Now on March 27, 2012, and a year later had 60,000 downloads in 103 countries.
Features
The app includes links to entries; results; streaming live video and audio from participating North American tracks, and in select international locations; today’s changes, alerts, a wagering option, immediate race replays going back two years, news, and a how-to-use demonstration. It delivers push notifications. Fans can tailor information to meet specific needs, such as a favorite horse, trainer, jockey or track. Replays are available from 52 tracks, with the notable exceptions being those owned by Churchill Downs, the Stronach Group, and Oaklawn Park. It is available for iPhone, iPad or Android devices as well as on Xbox 360.
The application is offered for free, and is ad supported. In September 2014, the Horse Races Now app was opened 1.2 million times. As of March 2015, McPeek reported in a radio interview that the app had been downloaded 300,000 times.