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BUILDINGS & FACILITIES

 

YEAR: 1946

PHOTO-FINISH

Photo-chart cameras are now installed on all the leading racecourses in the Dominion. This article is written to explain what is virtually a new idea in photography and to explain some of the many questions that are often asked about 'photo-finish.' Technicalities have been avoided as much as possible.

It is interesting to note that the original development of the movie camera was closely associated with racing, and was, in fact, evolved from experiments made with a series of ordinary fixed cameras fitted round a racetrack to take a sequence of pictures of horses galloping, these pictures later being pieced together to give some idea of sequence of movement.

Later there was developed a movie camera with a synchronised shutter to produce a series if still pictures of 'frames' which is the basis of the ordinary moving picture in use today. For some time high-speed movie cameras were used for deciding the finish of races, but were abandoned owing to the fact that, firstly, it commonly happened to be a point between two 'frames' on the film. Consequently the judge had to interpolate between the picture taken just before and the picture taken just after the actual finish. Secondly, there was the disadvantage that camera shutters did not photograph both inside and outside horses with equal advantage.

The first big advance to be made in the recording of race finishes was the innovation of what is known as the 'continuous strip' or 'slit' camera. The principle of this camera is that no shutter is used, but in its place is fitted a very narrow vertical slit with an opening of a few thousandths of an inch which enables the camera to 'see' across a narrow strip of track only a few inches wide right across the finish line. The film in the camera moves continuously past this slit at a speed synchronised with the speed of the horses. The camera is so set up that a horse is not photographed until it actually reaches the finish line and each horse in turn is recorded on the film as it passes the finish.

This system was used to quite a consideable extent in America, but did not find great favour due primarily to the fact that the photograph gave no indication whether or not the camera was accurately aligned across the finish line when the photogragh was taken. In other words there was nothing to show whether it took a photograph several feet before or after the finish. Another objection to this camera was the fact that there was no proof that a photograph of any race was in fact the photograph it putported to be. A few years ago what is known as the 'spinner' was invented and this revolutionised the whole situation.

The 'spinner' comprises a revolving drum fitted on the inside of the track at the finish line and rotating 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. The written items which appear on every film give complete evidence of exactly what race is recorded with no possibility of error.

The vertical lines provide the answer to a question often asked: Where is the winning post? These lines are drawn exactly vertical to the actual finish line and, therefore, as the photograph is taken each one of these lines is a finish line. It must be remembered that the camera only photographs what happens at the winning post and provides a record of the order in which the horses pass, no horse being photographed either before or after the actual finish line.

At the end of the race if a photograph is called for by the judge, an enlargement is made of the particular section of the film that is required e.g. first horse, third horse, etc. On these enlargements it will be seen that a white line is drawn alongside the nose of the horse in question. This line is put on in the enlarging process for the convenience of the judge. As already explained every one of the vertical lines appearing on the picture is an actual finish line and therefore, any one of these lines could be extended to separate the noses of horses at any distance across the track. To avoid the judge having to use parallel rulers or other equipment this line is drawn across in the enlarging process, and it will be seen that it is drawn exactly parallel to the 'spinner' lines.

A further modification which has been of great benefit is the fitting of the mirror at the far side of the track just above the 'spinner.' 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. However, it also serves another purpose and that is to prove that the camera does not favour inside horses as it will be seen that a horse wins by the same margin in the mirror image as in the direct picture.

The cameras are fitted in a combined camera room and dark room 10ft by 10ft, preferably in a position directly above the judge and at a height sufficient to give an angle down to the horses that will seperate them when bunched together with the exception of those close to the inside rail, which latter will be seperated in the mirror. Normal heights and distances are 40ft to 60ft in height at distances of 50 to 100ft from the outside rail of the course. Two cameras are always used, one of these being regarded as an emergency in case of a fault in the main camera.

The first Photo-Chart picture taken at Addington was in the 1946 NZ Trotting Club, won by Integrity from Josedale Grattan after a great race home. (Pictured)

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 14April48



In the event that you cannot find the information you require from the contents, please contact the Racing Department at Addington Raceway.
Phone (03) 338 9094