It makes use of the very latest technology in electronics, and is exceptionally well designed and built. But most of all, it is accurate, fair and impartial. In crossing the finish line, each car breaks an invisible infrared light beam. Precisely aligned sensors report the shadows, and the electronic circuits display the finishing order. The lights are very bright and everyone in the audience sees the race results the instant they occur.
Close races are very difficult to call by eye, no matter how good one's sight.
As the derby progresses, and each race becomes more important, the races typically become even closer. Many times, people in the audience will object to the judge's call, and they won't always be wrong. Doing re-runs to remedy the situation burns up time, does not always solve hard feelings, and places boys with less aggressive parents at a disadvantage. Moreover, in trying to make everyone happy, you run the risk of totally losing control of the program. These realities can take the fun out of an otherwise dynamite youth program.