CASESTUDYOUTSIDE BROADCAST
THOROUGHBRED RACINGPRODUCTIONSWHAT DOESIT TAKE?

WORLD CLASS HORSERACINGREQUIRES WORLD CLASSPRODUCTION

Producing the coverage of a horse race is far more detailed

deliver value for the various stakeholders associated withthan just showing the race itself. For the racing carnivals inthe distribution rights.

particular, the production requirement is often to be on airfor several hours per day. Considering races are only a few

What's challenging is the distances associated with theminutes long, there is quite a lot of airtime that needs to berace, which are unlike many other sports. This meansfilled in between actual race time. This is an opportunity tocontent needs to be captured from many different locations

showcase the sport on other levels which adds to the quality

scattered around the racecourse. These can include theof the coverage and the viewer experience. So editoriallystart, finish, stables, pre-parade ring, winners circle and ofdependingon

what'shappening

the spectators - only to mention a few. The

during the carnival or meet the teamuse of steady cams has also increased overneeds to follow the stories relevant tothe years, as has RF/wireless in general.

the particular time including; horses,

Additionally, the signal distribution isjockeys and trainers.

The biggest challengequite different to all the long copper cable

is really to make sureruns used in the past, with much more

The job of the producer is to make thethat you have cameras

use of fibre both for video, audio andwhole programme work as a televisualin the right place

experience

fortheaudience

andat the right time.

communications.

A BRIEF HISTORYOF FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE AND HORSERACINGIN AUSTRALIA

Every year on the first Tuesday of November the mostFlemington to attend the Cup.

prestigious thoroughbred horse race in Australia is held –The Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup is a 3,200 metre race consistingof 24 horses, 3 years or older. Making the cut for theThe first race was in 1861 and it’s held during Spring Racing

Melbourne Cup is difficult in itself, with only the very best

Carnival, which is a horse racing series during October andthoroughbreds allowed to compete for the prize moneyNovember.

pool of $8 million.

The race club committee could hardly have envisaged theBetween 300 to 400 horses nominate for the event each

Australia has some of the world’s best racecourses, hosting some of the world’s most prestigious

Cup lasting a century and a half and growing to become aseason, with the final field limited to just 24 horses.

racing meets, and Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse ranks right up there as one of the best.

significant part of not only Australian, but also global socialand sporting culture. Such a popular event it is in fact that

The area was first used for horse racinig in March 1840, with the modern racecourse shaped not

it became a public holiday for Melbourne and some ofunlike a pear, boasting a six-furlong (1,200 m) straight known as 'the Straight Six.' The track has aregional Victoria.

circumference of 2.312 kilometres (1.437 mi) and a final straight of 450 metres (490 yd) for race
distances over 1.2 kilometres (1,300 yd). Races are run in an anti-clockwise direction.

By 1880, 100,000 people would make the journey toTRP has been producing the Melbourne Cup since 2009.Thoroughbred

RacingProductions

basedinPort

Melbourne, Australia, produces over 3500 hours of HighThe result is a racing production machine that can cut itwith any sportscasters in the world.

THE CHALLENGE

Due to legacy infrastructure and cascaded hardware,changes to the workflow or signal flow would often affectmultiple parties in the production, therefore signal routing

Definition live thoroughbred racing outside broadcasts

always required careful consideration.

each year. These broadcasts are provided for free-to-Featured Technologies:

air and pay TV channels in both Australia and overseas,• High Definition Facilities

to on-course patrons and importantly the Stipendiary• EVS Server Technology

Additionally, the ever-inceasing camera quantities on site

Stewards who mange the integrity of racing. That means• 3D Graphics

meant that the original truck was often operating in excess

delivering premium sports vision that not only captures• Extreme Super Slo Motion

the spectacular excitement of thoroughbred racing, butalso the finer detail.

Camerasof it’s designed capacity. This, along with legacy analog infrastructre at the race
courses, often resulted in complex workarounds and compromise.

• POV Cameras• 3D Animation

Previously, TRP’s main facility relied on a two-way radio field communications

When TRP commissioned Sony to develop its new fleet• Telestrator with Pixel Tracking

workflow and a traditional, centralized video router, with racecourseof high definition outside broadcast vans, it wanted only

• Virtual Graphics & Signage

infrastructures that varied from racetrack to racetrack. TRP faced challenges

the best.

• Remote Link Camerascommon to any operation that relies on multiple two-way radio channels for• Tracking Vehiclecommunications: licensing issues related to multiple users on a single frequency• Class-leading wireless and wired communications

who were attempting to use the frequency at a particular site, interference, andABOUT

TRP

the complexities of spectrum management for large productions with multiple
In 2019 TRP commissioned the 22-camera HDOB1,vendors.

designed and built by Sony, and is a mainstay at highprofile races such as the Melbourne Cup Carnival of theVictorian Racing Club.

THE SOLUTION

Riedel’s MediorNet system, consisting of a MediorNet MetroN
core router and 21 MediorNet MicroN nodes, with fly-awaySony Australia’s OB vehicle production facility inframes and integrated multiviewers, enables modular andBeresfield, north of Sydney, has been responsible forseamless distribution of video, communications, and databuilding some of the most technically complex mobile

signals within each racecourse for broadcast production.

production trucks in the southern hemisphere. This
includes vehicles for NZLIVE New Zealand, TV3 Malaysia,

The Bolero-MediorNet solution has removed the bottlenecks of the previous

NSW Racing Australia, TDC Australia and Telstra.

intercom setup, giving each field communications position a discrete channel
and enabling teams to work independently and efficiently. Before, the relianceon the single video router meant that users were constrained by the size of therouter and design of the OB unit infrastructure; with MediorNet, each position isable to access all signals without affecting others.
The deployment is especially notable for its heavy focus on IP-based solutions,leveraging Riedel’s expertise in IP-based workflows based on the SMPTE ST 2110
standard for broadcast,” said Espen Brynildsen, Technical Solutions Manager,
Riedel Communications Australia. “One of the key success factors for this project
was the outstanding cooperation and open communication amongst Riedel, Sony,and TRP around aspects such as switch functionality and network optimization.
It’s another example of TRP’s technology leadership and outstanding track recordin broadcast coverage for thoroughbred racing.”OB1 SPECIFICATIONSUMMARYCAMERA CONTROL
6 Station Camera CCU control (2 x 43” Sony Preview, 6x Sony Colour Grading Monitors, Leader Waveform
Monitoring))
22 Sony Cameras (HDC5500, HDC3500, HDC3100,HDC3170, PDWX400, ForA VFC7000)

CHASSIS
14.6m Trailer based on Sony Clam Shell design and build
to TRP’sspecifications

RECORD REPLAY

4 x 43” Sony Preview Monitors driven by Riedel Multiviewer
4 x Sony 17” PVM Monitors
EVS Axon Cerebrum, Routing Switching, UMD and 3 level
Tally
Virtual Spectator Custom Designed 3D Graphics System
Virtual Spectator Virtual Graphics
AUDIO
Yamaha Rivage PM7
4 x Dorrough Metering
Genlec Monitoring
iPad Pro (e scripts, rundowns and music downloads)
Full Dante Integration
Lectrosonic Radio Microphones and IFB monitoring
COMMUNICATIONS
Riedel Artist-64 Intercom Matrix
ST2110-30/31 compatible AES67-108 client cards
RSP2318 and DSP2312 SmartPanels (incl. ESP-2324
expansion panels – all connected via AES67)
Riedel Bolero (operating 3 nodes: Local/Mounting

Bolero replaces a previous two-way radio
workflow. It’s also the first OB truck in Australia
that uses MediorNet for all routing.

3 Channel 2G DTC Microwave Link System with full

PRODUCTION

iPad Pro (e scripts and rundowns)

The first OB truck project in Australia in whichremote control
camera remote control

64 Input 3 ME Sony XvS-6000 Switcher

MEDIORNET, ARTIST,BOLERO SIGNAL ROUTINGAND COMMS

4 channel 7G DTC Microwave Link system with full camera

Hino 700 Prime Mover

2 Tier Production Gallery

HD OB1Fujinon Lenses(107x, 70x, 46x, 24x wide angle)

Yard/Grandstand Roof and 15 Beltpacks)
Riedel CCP-1116 - 2 Channel Commentators Unit
Dante-108 client cards
2 x Tieline Bridge-IT Codec

2 Station Replay Control Plus Multi-media Delivery Station
3 x EVS XT3 Channel max servers (1 with Super SlowMotion Software)
3 x EVS IP Directors
EVS Epsio
2 EVS Xfiles
iPad Pro (e scripts, rundowns and music downloads )3 Sony XDCam Record/Replay units
SimplyLive MMR410
Sony Hawkeye Innovations SMART Relay Stewards
Review System
MOG Speedrail
VIDEO AND AUDIO ROUTING
Decentralized Router Matrix consisting of:
Riedel MetroN and MicroN units including multiviewer
and processing software
19 local frames, 2 remote frames and 1 remote
Compact Pro frame
TECHNICAL
1 Station Engineering control
Phabrix Waveform Monitor
EVS Axon Cerebrum Control Platform
EVS Axon Router Panels
EVS Axon Distribution
Ihse KVM Switching and Signal distribution
Ferrofish Analog/Madi/Dante bulk converters
Motu Mix Engines
Juniper IP switching Matrix

MEDIORNET
ROUTER TOPOLOGYSTAGE BOXIN VENUE MICRONSHD OB 1THE TRP

TRACKING VEHICLE
TRP’s Tracking Vehicle is a bespoke design developed
for one purpose only - the signature camera angle forthe live coverage of the sport allowing the viewers atBoth crew members in the tracking vehicle
have a very skilled job with the operator closely
monitoring the output of the camera, thedistance the horses are from the vehicle,
as well as tracking them around the course.

home to experience the action close up as the race
unfolds.
The vehicle selection is based on strict performance
criteria with custom modifications made to enhancereliability in a range of adverse terrains and seamlessintegration into the live OB. Things like tyre-pressureetc. is adjusted to match the conditions at the timeof production. The stabilised Mo-Sys Engineering G30
camera mount makes it possible to get some of themost impressive Wide and Tight shots.
TRP also receives horseback reporter microphones andhelmet camera relayed back to the main OB Van.

WATCH THIS‘‘OF ALL THE INTERCOM
SOLUTIONS WE CONSIDERED
FOR THE HDOB1 UPGRADE, BOLERO OFFERED THE MOST ADVANCED FEATURES.’’CHARLES COLE, TRP

REFERENCESTHEBROADCASTBRIDGE.COM
RACING.COM