With its "space-age design, it would not look out of place in a theme park but its creator claims it will revolutionise the training of racehorses," according to Marcus Townend of the London DAILY MAIL.
Planning permission "has already been approved for the construction of the mile-long monorail system just outside the Berkshire training centre of Lambourn" with work expected to begin before the end of the year after the "recent appointment of a Project Manager."
Ultimately running along the track "will be a computer controlled unit housing between six and 12 horses as they exercise with controlled weights on their backs rather than riders." By this time next year, it should be completed and Turkish industrialist Mehmet Kurt, who has poured $20M into development and will spend a further £10M ($16M) on his system’s construction at Kingwood Stud, "is convinced the horse welfare benefits will win over any sceptic minds in racing." Units housing between six to 10 horses "travel along a one-mile monorail covered system exercising on an artificial racing surface."
Loose connecting reins "allow each horse freedom of movement to make exercise as natural as possible." The system "can be shut down by an operator travelling in control car behind the horses." Automatic shutdown "also checks in via sensors on the tethers if a horse stumbles or falls" (DAILY MAIL, 10/13).
