Pacing strategy in horse racing

Thanks to velocity data on races in Chantilly (France), we set a mathematical model which provides the optimal pacing strategy for horses on a fixed distance. It relies on mechanics, energetics (both aerobic and anaerobic) and motor control. We identify the parameters useful for the model from the data. Then it allows to understand the velocity, the oxygen uptake evolution in a race, as well as the energy or the propulsive force and predict the changes in pacing according to the properties (altitude and bending) of the track.