British racecourses have introduced a new generation of photo-finish cameras designed to significantly improve the accuracy of race result adjudication.
The upgrade was announced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), with new Lynx photo-finish cameras now available for use by race judges.
The cameras capture images at around 6,000 frames per second, producing much higher-resolution pictures than previous equipment to enable better and faster judgements.
The technology will be used as the primary system for determining race placings, including at major events such as the Cheltenham Festival, while existing cameras remain in place as backup.
According to the BHA, the improved image quality should allow judges to make more definitive decisions, which has previously been difficult in extremely tight finishes or challenging weather conditions.
The added transparency and clarity this gives the adjudicators will also be useful for bookmakers who may otherwise have been in dispute with bettors.
Indeed, officials have said that the images will be shared with broadcasters and published online, so the public will clearly be able to see the outcomes of races.
The upgrade was delivered in collaboration with racing technology provider RaceTech, which worked with camera manufacturer Lynx to develop the new system.
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