{
  "id": 12620602,
  "title": "New GPS tech could shake up the local punting scene",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/new-gps-tech-could-shake-up-the-local-punting-scene",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T11:45:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/horses/new-gps-tech-could-shake-up-the-local-punting-scene/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New GPS technology is set to revolutionize the local horse racing betting scene by providing punters with real-time GPS tracking of galloping horses. This technology will offer highly accurate sectional timing and performance data, such as stride metrics, at four Race Coast racecourses in South Africa – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Durbanville, Greyville, and Scottsville. The GMax System, developed by international firm Total Performance Data (TPD), involves a GPS tracker chip in each horse's saddlecloth, relaying data to trackside receivers around the course. The system provides 200m fractional times leading up to the winning post (800m, 600m, 400m, 200m) – both overall and for individual runners. Punters can identify horses that have performed better than their finishing positions might suggest, allowing them to potentially exploit undervalued horses in future races. While this new technology may not be a game-changer immediately, it will deliver quicker, more comprehensive, and more accurate data. However, punters will still need to know how to read a race to fully utilize this information. In an online discussion, a professional punter expressed hope that sectionals wouldn't become too well-known, as the fewer punters taking advantage of sectionals, the bigger the edge they could have.",
  "summary": "Race Coast has clinched a deal with international firm Total Performance Data (TPD) to provide real-time GPS tracking of galloping horses.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}