PHOTO-CHART SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26748, 17 April 1948, Page 5

PHOTO-CHART SYSTEM

FORBURY INSTALLATION WORK NEARING COMPLETION Continuing its march of progress, the Forbury Park Trotting Club is having the photo-chart apparatus for the photographing of finishes installed on its course and the necessary work is almost completed. The system will be used at the Centennial meeting on April 24 and May 1 and this will be the first occasion on which it has been used on Otago course. A twin camera is used as'a safeguard against the possibility of a mechanical defect developing in one of the cameras. _____ The accompanying photograph shows the position on the inside rails of what is known as the “ spinner,” which comprises a revolving drum and rotates at a speed equivalent to the speed of the horses. On the outside of this drum is inscribed the name of the track, the number of the race and date, and a series of vertical lines, all of which are photographed on the film simultaneously with

the horses. *ne written items which appear on every film give complete evidence of exactly what race is recorded with no possibility of error. Above the “ spinner ” a mirror is fitted. This mirror serves primarily the purpose of giving a view from both sides of the track simultaneously, and in many instances will separate horses where one on the inside running may be screened in the direct view. It also serves another purpose, however, and that is to prove that the camera does not favour inside or outside horses as it will be seen that a horse wins by the same margin in the mirror picture as in the direct picture. Ever since racing began, the judges’ placings in close finishes have been disputed by sections of the public, consequently the important part the camera is now playing in racing can be realised. It is the greatest protection that could be devised for judges, who have too frequently been the targets for uncalledfor demonstrations. The Centennial meeting of the Forbury Park Club will go down as a milestone in the history of the club because of the value of the stakes and the use of the photo-finish apparatus for the first time.