Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Donovon
.....anyone who watched the replay can see Songbird won the bob.
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Have to disagree with this.
There's an older thread about the Songbird vs. Beholder photo finish from 2016 here:
http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/s...d.php?t=134470
I actually took the time to contact the CHRB and asked them to explain why the NBC Sports replay footage showed Songbird getting her nose in front right at the wire while the photo finish camera showed Beholder winning the race.
Below is a cut and paste taken from the email reply I received from the CHRB and Bill O'Brien of the photo finish co. PLUSMIC USA in
post #38 of the above mentioned thread:
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 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.
That explains to my satisfaction why NBC's replay footage showed Songbird winning while the official win photo showed Beholder as the winner.
The one thing I wish every track would do is position their slow motion replay camera at an exact 90 degree angle to the center of the mirror (even if they have to locate the replay camera on the infield side of the course so as not to interfere with the photo finish camera.)
Carry on.
-jp
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