Champions Day: Stewards to have new replay system for first time

A new HD replay system will be used by the stewards for the first time at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day this Saturday.

The new system, which will be gradually rolled out at all of the UK’s 59 racecourses from 1 April 2018, will make the process of reviewing races easier, more efficient and more comprehensive in the immediate aftermath and any resulting stewards enquiries.

The system will allow officials multiple screen views of continually synchronised content from up to 16 HD cameras. The playback of footage will also now be controlled via an intuitive touchscreen system from within the Stewards’ Room, replacing the existing “talkback” system to an outside broadcast truck. It also provides the ability to record the whole of a day’s racing to review any other incidents which might occur.

The system has been developed by Belgian company EVS, with support from Racetech, and has recently been used by officials on the British and Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand and the Super Bowl.

“The new EVS system gives the Stewards every possible angle at the touch of the button, and will make the post-race review quicker and more comprehensive than it has been previously,” Paul Barton, Head of Stewarding at the BHA, said.

“It will also allow for more footage to be called on in an enquiry, if required, and give stewards and participants clearer evidence on which to base their discussions and decisions.”

Meanwhile, Ascot's regular Flat-racing track will be used on Champions Day, clerk of the course Chris Stickels said in a statement.

There was the alternative of using the inner circuit, on which jumps racing is usually staged, if conditions deteriorated markedly before declaration time on Thursday morning.

But Stickels said: "With no appreciable rain overnight and a forecast suggesting only showers until Saturday, round course racing will take place as normal on the regular outer track. The inner track will not be used."