Kildare entrepreneurs aiming to bring multi-billion euro racing industry into 21st century with new app

By Isabelle Moran Kildare-based tech business Equine MediRecord is a mobile application and website which keeps time of all the medicines and vaccinations that are routinely administered to horses throughout the day. This app’s target market is people who would be taking care of racehorses and other bloodstock. The company was founded by two Trinity College Dublin students – Pierce Dargan and Simon Hillary. The existing medicine registers which is kept by trainers are physical books, this means data is inputted by hand on a day to day basis. There are many disadvantages to using the physical books. For example if it misplaced or damaged all the data is lost then and there is no copy to retrieve the information. Equine MediRecord solves lots of problems in this industry. One of these problems would be putting the wrong times in the book, so now the real times will be secure and saved into a cloud account so they can’t be lost or damaged. The app will send notifications when it is time for the next medication or vaccination. A location feature will also be on the application, which will change to where ever the horse is. This ensures records being easily exported as files to whoever needs them. Pierce Dargan, CEO of Equine MediRecord, said: “Our system has been well received and is already in use by trainers and vets, and it has been deemed an acceptable alternative by racing regulators. It is easy to use and keep up to date, provides vital information to trainers, and allows technology to assist in horse welfare.” Simon Hillary, CTO of Equine MediRecord, said: “We have brought technology to bear on a traditional industry to assist trainers to abide by the regulatory demands placed upon them. It is easy to use and will encourage up-to-date record keeping, and its accuracy will assist trainers and vets in their day-to-day work.” Hugh Dillon, Veterinary practitioner and partner at Troytown Equine hospital, said: “I have been very impressed with this programme, which combines a very user-friendly platform for both trainer and veterinary surgeon with the ability to accurately record medication and treatment details of the racehorses under their care. This is vital in today’s increasingly regulatory environment. I am very confident that this program will be an essential tool that can be run from phones or laptops.” [caption id="attachment_206584" align="alignnone" width="2100"] Pierce Dargan and business partner, Simon Hillary, Equine MediRecord, accepting cheque for Under 30’s Winner from Aislinn De Barra, AIB,left, and Brian Purcell, Chairman of The Dragons, right.[/caption] Michael Grassick, Chief Executive of the Irish Horseracing Trainers Association, said: “From the first conversation with Pierce Dargan and Simon Hillary I always felt it was a good idea. With more regulations from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board regarding medical record books it is imperative that we keep records up to date. Using Equine MediRecord solves these problems. It gives you added security and peace of mind. ” The Equine MediRecord has won many awards and prizes and is proving it be very successful, including recently winning Overall Winner of Best Start-up Serving the Thoroughbred Industry at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Expo.