Raceday TV and RaceiQ – Racecourse Media Group’s (RMG) two industry-leading fan engagement tools for the sport of horseracing – have both been announced as finalists for the Smarter Sports Awards 2026, formerly The Sports Technology Awards.
Raceday TV has been shortlisted for the Smarter Fan Platforms and Communities award, while RaceiQ, in partnership with leading sports data and analytics company, Ellipse has been recognised in the Smarter Performance Intelligence category.
In January, RMG’s rapidly-growing social media brand, Raceday TV, surpassed one billion views across its platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Led by former Love Island TV personality-turned broadcaster extraordinaire Frankie Foster on the channel’s now much-heralded orange mic, Raceday TV has delivered industry-leading performance through mobile-shot short-form video content, presenter-led features, exclusive behind-the-scenes access and real-time raceday coverage.
Clive Cottrell, Director of Marketing at RMG, said: “Being nominated for such a prestigious award is a proud moment for everyone involved in Raceday TV. What started as an experiment with a mobile phone and an orange microphone has grown into something that genuinely adds value to the sport.
“Our aim was never just to post racing clips, but to capture the full raceday experience: the characters, the colour and the emotion that make the sport special. Surpassing one billion views in January shows there is a real appetite for that kind of content and, most encouraging of all, is the evidence that this approach is helping broaden racing’s appeal and bring new people through the gates.”
RaceiQ’s impact across the horse racing ecosystem since its inception in 2023 has also been acknowledged.
Developed by Ellipse’s data science and engineering specialists, leveraging the latest AI and Machine Learning techniques, RaceiQ has become integral to Racing TV and ITV’s racing’s pre- and post-race analysis by creating informative and engaging content for all.
Ed Gretton, Director of Racing at RMG, said: “The reaction to RaceiQ has been extremely positive, and its smooth integration into ITV and Racing TV has clearly resonated with fans. It is redefining how we analyse and experience the sport, and giving bettors unprecedented insight into the factors that influence performance. This nomination reflects the dedication and expertise of the fantastic team at Ellipse and our Racing TV production and presenter colleagues.”
Roderick Grafton, MD – Horse Racing at Ellipse, added: “We are delighted to be a Finalist in the Smarter Performance Intelligence category as it perfectly summarises what RaceiQ brings to horse racing. This recognition is a testament to the hardworking and talented teams at Ellipse and RMG. Now in our third year, it has been wonderful to see the use of RaceiQ grow exponentially as we roll out new metrics across territories worldwide.”
For more on RaceiQ please visit the X (Twitter) page and website page.
The Smarter Sports Awards shortlist was determined in a judging effort that exceeded 300 hours by an international panel that featured elite athletes and coaches, technology leaders and brand experts. The result are finalists that reflect how modern sport is being reshaped across performance, operations and commercial strategy.
The Ceremony will be streamed live from London on 13 May in front of a select studio audience.
Check out the full shortlist here:
