TrackMaster, an Equibase company, has announced its sponsorship of a Software Development Challenge for both Thoroughbred and Harness racing. Included among the prizes for the winner(s) will be the eligibility to enter into a revenue-sharing agreement with TrackMaster in connection with the commercial availability of the winner’s software.

Software and web-based application developers will be furnished with one year of sample data from TrackMaster Plus (extensive entry files) and TrackMaster Charts (detailed results files) to design, test and optimize their applications. Specifications will be provided and forum-based responses to questions will be posted and shared with all registered entrants. Developers are encouraged to collaborate on their efforts.

“We believe there are many people who have already developed a variety of programs to help analyze races, but who may not have put the ‘finishing touches’ on such applications to make them commercially acceptable,” said TrackMaster president, David Siegel. “In addition, there are many statistically oriented people outside of racing who may simply have a fascination with predictive models. This contest gives these individuals an opportunity to apply their knowledge and interest for possible profit.”

Entries for the contest will be accepted through October 1, 2009. Final software programs are due by May 1, 2010, and winners will be announced on or about June 15, 2010.

The winner(s) will be eligible to enter into a partnership with TrackMaster for distribution of their software on www.trackmaster.com and www.equibase.com, and will share in all proceeds related to the software itself and/or data files used by the software.

Interested developers can visit the TrackMaster Software Development Challenge Forum website for additional information.

TrackMaster, a wholly owned subsidiary of Equibase Company LLC, provides a full range of handicapping products for the three major racing breeds — Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred. Equibase Company LLC is a partnership between The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America and serves as the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information.