Keeneland will be the first track in North America to use the TurfTrax Speed System, said Chuck Scaravilli, a vice president of Lexington-based Equibase Company, which compiles race charts and other racing information for tracks in North America.

"We're honored that the pilot program will be in Kentucky," Keeneland President Nick Nicholson said. "This project is something that the industry across the country is watching."

The system uses a 4-ounce radio transmitter that is attached to each horse's saddlecloth. Using electronic antennas that will be stationed around the racetrack, chartcallers will be able to gather information that previously has been mostly unavailable to race fans, such as how wide a horse might have tracked during a particular race, when a horse sped up or slowed down, the exact distance between horses and the exact finishing times for each horse.

Chartcallers traditionally have had to rely on only their eyesight and have to offer educated guesses about the distance between horses.

The racing authority gave Keeneland the approval to test the system as much as necessary during the fall meet, which will run Oct. 8 through 30.