IFHA Offers International Results on Web Site

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities has updated its Web site to include results of the world's biggest races and other related information for group I, II, and III races.

"The Results & Fixtures Database has to be seen in conjunction with our World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings,", IFHA executive director Maurits Bruggink said in a release. "Seen together, they will allow our visitors to better asses the performance of horses throughout the year."

Carl Hamilton, chairman and president of The Jockey Club Information Systems, was in charge of the technical development of the new IFHA service. He said results would be updated each week.

"It is a considerable task to gather information from so many different countries," Hamilton said. "Different data elements are collected and stored by various countries; therefore, we have limited our global data to the first three finishers of a race--horses and jockeys--and some basic descriptive data regarding the race."

IFHA president Louis Romanet said racing is becoming more international in nature because of cross-border participation and growth in simulcasting. "As this trend is likely going to continue, we believe our database is a just response to a growing need for international racing information by media, racing officials, and fans," he said.

Bruggink said even though the information is available at www.IFHAonline.org/fixtures&results, "racing maintains its existing claims on intellectual property rights on race data."