AI scores race days and optimizes Suomen Hippos’ trotting race calendar
Suomen Hippos has implemented an AI-powered race calendar to enhance the nationwide scheduling of trotting race events. The solution reduces the carbon footprint of race logistics, supports horse welfare by optimizing travel distances, and provides a data-driven foundation for decision-making.
Suomen Hippos ry manages and supervises trotting races and all related activities in Finland. HiQ developed an AI-based competition calendar for the organization, increasing automation in what was previously a labor-intensive manual process. The solution utilizes data collected by Hippos on horses, races, audience numbers, and betting turnover since 1984.
“The number of races must align with regional demand, and races must be organized in an increasingly sustainable and cost-effective manner. The AI tool strengthens the fact-based foundation for decision-making and nationwide race scheduling. This supports not only the horses but also their owners and the entire industry’s well-being,” says Arto Hytönen, Director of Trotting Races at Hippos.
Automated race calendar minimizes carbon footprint, improves attendance rates, and enhances horse welfare
A comprehensive AI solution based on the XGBoost regression model finds the optimal race calendar by scoring race days with an index that accounts for numerous influencing factors. These include the location of competitions, the home stables of thousands of horses, as well as factors relevant to race series planning, such as horse age, prize earnings, and recovery times.
“Our goal was to develop the most functional solution for Hippos, one that meets the quality criteria of a manually created calendar. A key aspect was determining whether data could define the rules for calendar planning or whether expert judgment would always be necessary,” says Jonas Pomoell, Lead AI Consultant at HiQ.
AI enriches Hippos’ decision-making with data
The AI-assisted competition calendar influences the entire harness racing ecosystem. The algorithm distributes race days evenly and flexibly across Finland while considering the preferences and criteria of racetracks, the competition committee, and industry professionals.
“We gain valuable fact-based insights from the data to support decision-making, such as determining the total number of race days. Additionally, optimizing race days improves race attendance rates, which directly impacts betting turnover and sustains interest in harness racing,” explains Arto Hytönen.
As a byproduct, the project also generated new data, including the precise locations of horse home stables, which Hippos is already utilizing for the regional development of trotting races.
The long-standing partnership between Hippos and HiQ, which began in 2006, continues with the development of a new online service. The platform will allow users to modify the AI-generated race calendar and simulate different scenarios. The overall system serves as a solid foundation for future data-driven solutions.
More enquiries: Jonas Pomoell, Lead AI Consultant, HiQ, jonas.pomoell@hiq.fi
Photo by Maisa Hyttinen, Suomen Hippos
Suomen Hippos ry
Suomen Hippos ry is the central organization for trotting races and horse breeding in Finland, consisting of 128 member associations. Its primary responsibilities include maintaining a registry and studbook for all horse breeds bred in Finland, as well as leading and overseeing harness racing competitions. Additionally, Suomen Hippos engages in education, organizational, and publishing activities. Its subsidiary company is Suomen Hevosurheilulehti Oy, a publishing company focused on equestrian sports.
