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Biomechanical factors limiting athletic performance in racehorses
Supervisors: Prof Alan Wilson (awilson @ rvc.ac.uk), Dr Andrew Spence (aspence @ rvc.ac.uk) and Dr Andy Thurman
(TurfTrax)
Department: Veterinary Basic Sciences
Studies on factors limiting maximum performance in athletic activities are limited and horseracing
presents an excellent system for such studies as horses are relatively similar and anatomically simple
and they race on different surfaces, over different distances, slopes and over jumps. This studentship
is a BBSRC industrial CASE award sponsored by Turftrax Group Ltd (www.turftrax.com) who deploy a
system for recording speed and position data from horses during racing and a system for measuring
the properties of horse racing surfaces. They recorded data from 30,193 horse starts in 2006 so there
is substantial statistical power and population level statistics are feasible. We have validated the accuracy
of the Turftrax system (In Review) and it performs considerably better than standard GPS. In this project the
student will use electronics to augment the performance of the tag system, incorporating sensors such
as accelerometers, and utilise high speed video to record data from horses during racing, in addition
to a variety of analytical methods such as statistical pattern recognition and population level statistics.
The project will provide a training in these techniques and the student should have relevant skills and
aptitudes in mathematics or engineering methods and a first degree in maths, engineering, zoology,
veterinary medicine or similar.
This studentship is funded for up to four years and is an industrial CASE award (and hence is funded at
above the usual UK studentship rates). Students must qualify as UK home students (ie have spent the last
three years in the UK to be eligible for the award).
As part of the CASE award the successful candidate will gain exposure to the racing industry
environments in which the speed and positioning system is deployed to practical effect to generate
commercial returns.
The Structure and Motion lab (www.rvc.ac.uk/sml) is a vibrant and active group of about 30
researchers based in a rural location with good rail links to central London. The lab has outstanding
facilities for biomechanics research on a wide range of animals and good technical support in
electronics design and the measurement methods we use.
For informal enquires contact Alan Wilson 01707 666259 awilson @ rvc.ac.uk
Applications forms at
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Education/Postgraduate/PhD/PhD.cfm#projects
Closing date 18th April
Background References
Usherwood JR, Wilson AM. (2006) Accounting for elite indoor 200 m sprint results. Biology
Letters; 2: 47‑50.
Usherwood JR, Wilson AM. (2005) Biomechanics: no force limit on greyhound sprint speed.
Nature; 438: 753‑754.
Pfau T, Witte TH, Wilson AM. (2005) A method for deriving displacement data during cyclical
movement using an inertial sensor. Journal of Experimental Biology; 208: 2503‑2514.
Alan M. Wilson BSc BVMS PhD MRCVS
Structure and Motion Lab
The Royal Veterinary College
Hawkshead Lane
Hatfield
Herts
AL9 7TA
England
tel +44 01707 666259
fax +44 01707 666371
Mobile +44 07 90305070 3
Email: awilson@rvc.ac.uk
www.rvc.ac.uk/sml
Supervisors: Prof Alan Wilson (awilson @ rvc.ac.uk), Dr Andrew Spence (aspence @ rvc.ac.uk) and Dr Andy Thurman
(TurfTrax)
Department: Veterinary Basic Sciences
Studies on factors limiting maximum performance in athletic activities are limited and horseracing
presents an excellent system for such studies as horses are relatively similar and anatomically simple
and they race on different surfaces, over different distances, slopes and over jumps. This studentship
is a BBSRC industrial CASE award sponsored by Turftrax Group Ltd (www.turftrax.com) who deploy a
system for recording speed and position data from horses during racing and a system for measuring
the properties of horse racing surfaces. They recorded data from 30,193 horse starts in 2006 so there
is substantial statistical power and population level statistics are feasible. We have validated the accuracy
of the Turftrax system (In Review) and it performs considerably better than standard GPS. In this project the
student will use electronics to augment the performance of the tag system, incorporating sensors such
as accelerometers, and utilise high speed video to record data from horses during racing, in addition
to a variety of analytical methods such as statistical pattern recognition and population level statistics.
The project will provide a training in these techniques and the student should have relevant skills and
aptitudes in mathematics or engineering methods and a first degree in maths, engineering, zoology,
veterinary medicine or similar.
This studentship is funded for up to four years and is an industrial CASE award (and hence is funded at
above the usual UK studentship rates). Students must qualify as UK home students (ie have spent the last
three years in the UK to be eligible for the award).
As part of the CASE award the successful candidate will gain exposure to the racing industry
environments in which the speed and positioning system is deployed to practical effect to generate
commercial returns.
The Structure and Motion lab (www.rvc.ac.uk/sml) is a vibrant and active group of about 30
researchers based in a rural location with good rail links to central London. The lab has outstanding
facilities for biomechanics research on a wide range of animals and good technical support in
electronics design and the measurement methods we use.
For informal enquires contact Alan Wilson 01707 666259 awilson @ rvc.ac.uk
Applications forms at
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Education/Postgraduate/PhD/PhD.cfm#projects
Closing date 18th April
Background References
Usherwood JR, Wilson AM. (2006) Accounting for elite indoor 200 m sprint results. Biology
Letters; 2: 47‑50.
Usherwood JR, Wilson AM. (2005) Biomechanics: no force limit on greyhound sprint speed.
Nature; 438: 753‑754.
Pfau T, Witte TH, Wilson AM. (2005) A method for deriving displacement data during cyclical
movement using an inertial sensor. Journal of Experimental Biology; 208: 2503‑2514.
Alan M. Wilson BSc BVMS PhD MRCVS
Structure and Motion Lab
The Royal Veterinary College
Hawkshead Lane
Hatfield
Herts
AL9 7TA
England
tel +44 01707 666259
fax +44 01707 666371
Mobile +44 07 90305070 3
Email: awilson@rvc.ac.uk
www.rvc.ac.uk/sml