Below is a cut and paste taken from the email reply I received from the CHRB and Bill O'Brien of PLUSMIC USA:
Quote:
Re: Photo finish on Breeders'Cup Friday between Songbird and Beholder.
Jeff asks: "was the photo finish camera pointed at the center of the mirror or just to the right of the mirror?"
Answer: The photo finish camera was pointed at the center of the mirror.
Jeff asks: "...[is]camera... regularly checked for calibration...?"
Answer: The camera is mounted on the exact finish line as determined by survey and is visually checked throughout the race day.
Comment: NBC camera is probably twenty yards past the finish line. When a video camera is past the finish line it favors the inside horse; when a video camera is up from the finish line it favors the outside horse.
Technically speaking: The NBC camera is about 30 degrees beyond the plane of the finish line.
Bill O'Brien / President
PLUSMIC USA
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It turns out - as I had thought - that the finish line is in fact the center of the mirror.
Apparently, the NBC camera was positioned approximately 20 yards past the finish line - creating an approximate 30 degree angle between it and the center of the mirror.
If true - that would explain (to my satisfaction) the differences between the replay footage and the win photo.
-jp
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