While the big news from technical facilities provider RaceTech is the launch of Galileo, its largest OB truck yet, the company has also been expanding its remote production facilities in recent months in response to the increasingly hybrid nature of horse racing broadcast and production in the UK.

The company made its first major investment in remote production around two years ago with a post-Covid rethink of its south-west London facility to create a new technical space complete with six galleries, a master control room (MCR) and two replay rooms.

This has now been expanded with the addition of three more galleries, creating eight similarly sized spaces and one larger room.

“It was driven by customer need,” says John Bozza, RaceTech CEO. “Customers are moving forward and looking for synergies, cost savings and efficiencies wherever possible. The number of galleries is based around the fact that the maximum number of fixtures could be up to eight in one day.”

While available for racing fixtures, the ninth gallery could also handle events outside of horse racing.

“It’s not something that we’ve really looked at in the past, but I think that we’ve got that capability now,” he adds. This is enhanced by the unveiling of Galileo, which was designed with flexibility in mind to ensure it can be utilised across other sports and live events.

The design of the new galleries is based on the existing spaces, with many of the same tech choices, including Evertz Nexx routers and Ross Ultra vision mixers. A new Evertz EQX matrix was also installed.

RaceTech has also recently taken on the role of providing the off-course connectivity for TRP-affiliated courses, partnering with BMC Networks.

“We’ve got about 30 racing sites on net now,” adds Bozza. “The MCR monitors the feeds that come in for those tracks, be that horse racing tracks or greyhound racing tracks, and then we push those on to the various rights holders. It’s a big step forward for us as it enables us to offer that end-to-end service – cameras on the course, connectivity, and then off-course distribution to the rights holders.”

The company also continues to invest in camera technology and is trialling automated solutions, initially on greyhound racing.

“Greyhound racing is a simpler model in that the distances that the greyhounds race are fairly standard, there are six dogs in every race, it’s not like the varying field size which you get in horse racing, and so on. The challenge with the AI models is certainly tougher on horse racing than on greyhound racing, but it’s starting to become something that we think could be deployable,” says Bozza.

The focus of any investment in automated and remotely controlled cameras has been to enhance storytelling and offer viewers new angles, rather than just replacing manned camera positions.

“Having cameras that can be remotely controlled can add value to the standard race coverage. So we’ve been putting cameras in parade rings, washdown areas so you see the horses after the race, and in various walkways on racecourses, so you bring more of the event to the viewer. Some of these areas you couldn’t even fit a manually operated camera in, so it’s not about an efficiency play, it’s about adding value.”

After eight months of planning and design, technical facilities provider RaceTech has unveiled its largest ever OB truck. Galileo is a flexible, expandable truck that meets the increasing demand for an on-site presence at major horse racing events, while its flexible design means that it can also be utilised across other sports and live event productions.

“The remote production side of our business is definitely growing, I’d say 60-70% of the fixtures we do now have an element of remote production,” explains John Bozza, RaceTech CEO. “But, on the flip side of that, we found that with the bigger fixtures, such as Royal Ascot, the Epsom Derby and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, we were putting more kit and more people on course than ever before. We were sending two or three OB units to cover various rights holders and to cover racecourse TV. It was just getting bigger and bigger, so we realised that we needed a bigger truck to cut down on fuel, drivers and so on.”

The result is Galileo, an expandable 4K-ready truck built on baseband infrastructure with three production spaces, two audio spaces and 20+ camera capability. The vehicle, designed and built by Spanish coachbuilder Tecnove alongside UK-based systems integrator Megahertz, successfully made its debut at Royal Ascot, although not working to full capacity.

“It went really well and it made some good noise in the OB compound – people were pleased to see it,” says Bozza of the first outing. “It’s good for our staff and good for the customers – it’s a really nice build and I’m impressed with it.”

Comfort and adaptability were at the core of the design. Separate entrances for the different workspaces ensure teams can operate without interruption. The two sound suites can be combined or separated depending on the needs of the production, and there’s also three separate multifunctional production spaces that can adapt to the specific needs of a project. Windows ensure sightlines throughout the truck are maintained no matter the configuration chosen.

The 170sqft main production space can accommodate up to 10 people and features a 64-input Sony MLS-X1 vision mixer. Other kit throughout the vehicle includes a Calrec Argo M36 fader desk, TSL audio monitor, RTS Odin talkback system, Sony OLED 4K monitors, Vislink Quantum RF and FocalPoint telemetry, and a Ross Carbonite Ultra vision mixer.

“Every available square metre was carefully optimised to create clearly defined operational areas while maintaining comfortable circulation and an efficient working environment for the production crew,” explains Tecnove’s María Elena Gijón Correas. “A key feature is the expandable body system, which significantly increases the available workspace once deployed without compromising the vehicle’s functionality. In addition, the interior was designed with a modular approach, making it straightforward to integrate new equipment or future technology upgrades without requiring major structural modifications.”

While Galileo is expandable on both sides it can also be operated with one or neither side expanded. “We don’t have to expand either side and it can just be used as a remote production truck,” explains RaceTech commercial director James Gray. “So we could bring in 20 cameras, send them all to the gallery in London and the truck never expands. It’s even multifunctional in how big we make it. This truck can just as easily do an eight-camera  remote production as it can go to Royal Ascot and run 40 cameras and three different productions.”

This level of flexibility did create something of a design challenge for Megahertz and Tecnove, particularly when it came to making the expanding pod on the side of the main production space fit.

“It was a challenge because there was no space for that to fold into,” says Simon Walder, senior project engineer at Megahertz. “We had to do some clever things with how the rear desks fold up to allow that to fold over the main production space because there was nowhere else for it to go. It’s a small pod but it was the biggest space design challenge.”

“One of the really cool bits about the design process with RaceTech and Tecnove was getting the three of us in a room together, and in one afternoon, live on screen, moving around all of the elements in that pod,” recalls Jon Flay, managing director at Megahertz. “We completely redid the configuration to make it more workable and the Tecnove design guys juggled desks and workstations live in SolidWorks as we were talking, which is pretty remarkable. The experience of live design change with them was really positive.”

Read more A hybrid future: RaceTech expands remote production galleries at London HQ

The built-in flexibility also creates the opportunity for RaceTech to work across other sports and live events.

“With racing, we’re probably looking at around 30 days coverage [for this truck], so it’s definitely got some capability to go out and potentially do other work,” says Bozza. “We tried to build it with as much flexibility as we could, whether that’s EVS or Evertz for replay, or in the production spaces which can be moved around to make one big area or two smaller ones. We can be really flexible in how we move things around within the unit.”

As with the rest of RaceTech’s fleet, sustainability was also a key part of the design and there was a clear focus on maximising the vehicle’s service life by simplifying maintenance and facilitating future upgrades. In addition, Galileo can run on HVO fuel and features a roof-mounted 1kW solar array. It is also equipped with high-efficiency Daikin air conditioning systems and a full LED lighting installation to minimise power consumption during operation, while the electrical design is FIFA-compliant. The real innovation, however, is the Victron Quattro inverter system which will provide around an hour of runtime in the event of total power failure.

“The vehicle’s got two independent inverter chains with lithium batteries,” explains Walder. “We’ve found that the inverter systems are much more robust and reliable than a traditional UPS. It also gives that flexibility to add in the solar element, which you don’t get with the UPS. So, a lot of the DC systems, all the CCTV and a lot of the lighting all runs off the batteries that are solar charged, and then there’s a one-hour backup on each technical input chain.”

With Galileo set to head up to Yorkshire for its next outing later this month, all parties agree that the final product is a great advert for co-operation and innovation, with teamwork central to the success of the project.

“This was our first project with Megahertz, but the collaboration was positive and highly productive from the very beginning,” says Correas. “Although we are based in different countries, distance never became an obstacle thanks to clear, transparent and continuous communication between both teams. It is a project we are particularly proud of, not only because of the technical solution we have delivered, but also because we successfully transformed the customer’s operational requirements into a vehicle tailored precisely to their needs. We are extremely pleased with the final result.”

Flay agrees: ” Everything flowed very well with Tecnove, and RaceTech is a terrific client. It’s always a pleasure working with people who know their business so well – it’s been a great partnership.”

RaceTech is delighted to announce a new race Commentator; Gary Capewell will join the RaceTech roster as an official Commentator from 1^st June 2026.

After a rigorous selection process taking place over multiple rounds, a short list of high-quality candidates were put through their paces and asked to perform live commentaries on course, at selected fixtures.  Whilst their commentary was not broadcast, it was judged by a selection committee made up of racecourse, broadcast, and bookmaker representatives.  Competition was fierce and the standard very high, making it difficult for selectors to whittle down the applicants after each stage of the process.

Gary Capewell has a long-held passion for horse racing, being well known as a Commentator for the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO), as well as point to point fixtures and various international fixtures. Gary is also a raceday presenter at several racecourses and has been commentating for bookmaker television and radio services.

Gary expressed his delight saying “Having applied before, I was thrilled to make it through this time, it’s all I ever wanted”.

He went on to say, “I’ve been interested in racing from an early age and living in Uttoxeter meant I got to go racing quite a bit”.  I was lucky enough to spend some time and gain valuable experience with Commentator Martin Harris who let me practise my skills.  I eventually took over from him commentating on the Arabian Races.  I have since called over 1500 Arab races including in France, Poland and Sweden, I’ve also been a race caller for William Hill Radio and the Dubai Racing Channel.  I can’t wait to get started as an official commentator on the RaceTech roster”.

James Gray, Chair of the Commentators User Group said, “Many congratulations to Gary for being selected to join the Racecourse Commentators roster.  RaceTech was delighted to manage the selection process and would like to thank all those who applied.  The quality of applicants has been outstanding, highlighting the level of talent and enthusiasm that is out there”.

British Horseracing Authority (BHA) judges will now have access to improved photo finish images following the introduction of ultra high-resolution camera technology.

Lynx photo finish cameras, which capture images at around 6,000 frames per second – much faster than the equipment used previously – significantly improve the clarity of photos that help confirm the winner and finishing distances for each race.

This new technology is available at British racecourse, including this week’s Cheltenham Festival, where it will be the primary camera used for regulatory purposes alongside the existing backup and infield cameras to determine placings.

The enhanced images will give the BHA judging team a much clearer and more accurate picture, which will support quicker, more definitive decision making – especially in a tight finish or poor weather conditions.

The investment by RaceTech in upgraded equipment follows a trial period, and an ongoing role out process, during which the Lynx cameras have been tested extensively by the photo-finish operators and the BHA.

The images captured by the Lynx technology will be published on the BHA website and shared with broadcasters, to ensure consistency and transparency for participants and customers.

These will be provided in a new style, with additional enhancements planned to continually improve the information available when displaying race results.

BHA Judge and team principal, David Hicks, said:

“The introduction of Lynx photo finish cameras gives BHA judges access to the highest-quality images and supports us in calling the results of races to a much greater degree of certainty.

“The judging process itself doesn’t change, with our expert team still scrutinising the photo finish and exercising their judgement, but the new equipment provides us with a significantly enhanced picture from which we can make an informed assessment. This precision really matters, especially when horses may be split by a very small number of pixels.

“We always want to make use of the best, most advanced technology to help support decision-making on a raceday. While it won’t always be possible to split horses, with dead-heats an inevitability at times, the new technology will provide much clearer evidence that can help improve the clarity with which decisions are reached.”

John Bozza, RaceTech Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“RaceTech have been working very closely with Lynx camera systems and the BHA for the past 24 months developing the next generation of photo finish cameras.

“These new cameras not only offer greater resolution images but perform much better in lower light conditions. Lynx have also built a custom API to interface between the Lynx software and BHA platforms results data.

“We are delighted to support the BHA by investing in this new camera technology which will enhance the adjudication process”.

 

1. A photo finish image captured using the new, higher resolution Lynx camera technology

2. The same image captured using the older equipment

 

 

 

 

“For immersive production to operate reliably in real world environments, the transport layer must deliver uncompromising performance,” said Anil Parmar, Sales and Marketing Director at Bluebell Opticom. “This deployment demonstrates that uncompressed 8K video and control signals can be carried over fibre infrastructure with the performance and confidence required for next generation immersive workflows.“

 

 

 

About Ascot

Racecourse Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who identified the land as being ideal for horseracing when riding out from Windsor Castle. The first four-day meeting at Ascot took place in 1768 and at some point in time, the race programme started being referred to as Royal Ascot.

The two tracks, Flat and Jumps, now provide racing all year round and Ascot hosts 26 days of racing each year, including the five days of Royal Ascot. It is Europe’s premier Flat racing meeting, featuring eight Group 1 races and 19 Group races in total. Around 300,000 racegoers attend across the five days while the event is broadcast in more than 180 territories with a reach of 650 million households.

As well as world-class racing, Ascot Racecourse is also used as a film and TV filming location and as a venue for conferences, banquets, exhibitions, product launches and weddings, with 300 non-racing events annually. The land on which Ascot Racecourse sits is leased from the Crown Estate, adjacent to Windsor Great Park, covering 179 acres.

For more information, please visit www.ascot.com

About RaceTech

RaceTech is the dedicated technical facilities provider that has maintained British racing at the forefront of global broadcast technology for 80 years.

Originated as the Race Finish Recording Company in 1946 its portfolio of innovation includes the pioneering development of horseracing’s first photo-finish system and the introduction of full high-definition broadcast and state-of-the-art racecourse AV installations.

About Ateme

Ateme is a global leader of video compression and delivery solutions, helping tier-one content providers, service providers, and streaming platforms boost their viewership and subscriber numbers.

Leveraging an R&D task force that is unique in the video industry, Ateme’s solutions power sustainable TV services, improve end-users’ quality of experience, optimize the total cost of ownership of TV/VOD services, and generate new revenue streams based on personalization and ad insertion. Beyond offering technological agility, Ateme partners with its customers, offering flexible business models that match their financial priorities.

Find out more: www.ateme.com

About Focal Point VR

Focal Point VR Ltd is a UK-based immersive video technology company specialising in live ultra-high-resolution stereoscopic capture and delivery.

The company designs and deploys end-to-end immersive broadcast systems combining advanced multi-sensor camera hardware, real-time processing, and high-efficiency encoding to deliver exceptional depth, clarity and realism.

Focal Point VR works with broadcasters, technology partners and rights holders to enable live immersive experiences across sport, music and premium events, bringing audiences closer to the action while integrating seamlessly into existing broadcast workflows.

About Bluebell Opticom

Bluebell Opticom designs and manufactures fibre optic links for the broadcast, telecommunications and professional AV industries. With more than 30 years of engineering experience and a Technical Emmy Award recognised in 2017, the company has played a key role in advancing fibre based transport of video, audio and data.

Bluebell supports a global customer base, supplying broadcasters, systems integrators and network operators across Europe, North America and Asia. Its solutions are widely used in studios, outside broadcast, live events and other mission critical environments. All products are designed and manufactured in house in the United Kingdom, ensuring quality, consistency and long term support.

See link below for full story…

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/production/racetech-unveils-series-of-camera-innovations/5201212.article

 

RaceTech and BMC TV are proud to announce a ground-breaking partnership that has

secured a multi-year, multi-million-pound contract with The Racing Partnership (TRP).

Starting in 2025, this collaboration will deliver advanced media connectivity and remote

production solutions, setting a new standard for the horse racing and broader sports

broadcasting industries.

This strategic partnership leverages the strengths of both companies. RaceTech’s indepth

knowledge of horse racing along with their state-of-the-art Raynes Park remote

production facility will serve as the hub for TRP’s transition to a fully remote production

workflow, while BMC TV will provide the critical connectivity infrastructure required to link

TRP’s racecourses and broadcast partners across the UK and globally.

John Bozza, CEO of RaceTech, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are

delighted to have secured this long-term contract with TRP and are excited to transition

them to our Raynes Park remote production facility. To ensure that we can offer the most

advanced, complete, and reliable service, we have teamed up with BMC TV, who will be

providing the contribution connectivity to TRP’s racecourses and distribution to their

broadcast partners in the UK and overseas. All services will be monitored and controlled

from a dedicated Master Control Room at Raynes Park, I am confident that this

partnership will offer great value to TRP and provide significant opportunities to develop

and deliver remote production solutions to a wider customer base and multitude of

sports.”

David Meynell, CEO of BMC TV, echoed this excitement: “This is a fantastic contract win

for BMC TV, and we cannot wait to get started. The partnership with RaceTech is

significant and one that allows us to offer maximum value to our customers, with

complete focus on the benefits that we can bring to the racing industry. We believe that

we are best placed now to offer value to all UK, Irish, and overseas horse and greyhound

racing, and we are confident that we will secure further contracts, continue to grow BMC

TV, and become the go-to provider for remote services to the racing industry and other

sporting events.”

Mark Kingston, Director of Media Technology and Production at TRP, commented on the

collaboration: “We are incredibly impressed with the advanced technological solutions

that RaceTech and BMC TV have developed to support our horse racing operations. This

partnership will not only enhance the quality and reliability of our broadcasts but also

future proof our production capabilities. RaceTech’s innovation in remote production,

combined with BMC TV’s exceptional connectivity services, provides us with a worldclass

solution that will support the business-critical services we provide to the betting

industry and to domestic viewers of over 700 UK horse race fixtures per annum.”

RaceTech’s continued commitment to innovation and excellence has made it a trusted

name in broadcasting for over 75 years. Its remote production capabilities, highlighted by

the cutting-edge Raynes Park facility, represent the future of efficient and sustainable

broadcasting.

BMC TV’s unparalleled expertise in live event connectivity and its resilient Media Network

including the innovative and unique LMX Live, bring unmatched quality and reliability to

this partnership. With its ability to deliver uncompressed, resilient, and global

connectivity solutions, BMC TV is poised to elevate TRP’s production and distribution

capabilities to new heights.

This landmark contract is a testament to the shared vision of BMC TV and RaceTech in

revolutionizing the racing and sports broadcasting landscape. Together, the companies

look forward to driving significant growth and innovation in the years ahead.

RaceTech is a leading provider of broadcast, production, and technical

services to the horse racing industry. With a legacy spanning over 75 years, RaceTech is

renowned for its innovation and commitment to excellence, delivering high-quality

content and cutting-edge solutions across 60 racecourses and beyond.

BMC TV specialises in live event connectivity, offering robust and

reliable solutions for audio, video, and data transmission. With expertise in both

compressed and uncompressed broadcast signals over IP, satellite, microwave, fibre,

and terrestrial networks, BMC TV is a trusted partner for media and live broadcast events

globally.

RaceTech the outside broadcast and technical services provider to British horseracing has
renewed its service agreement contracts with Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR).
A new multi-year service agreement is in place from October 2024 with Jockey Club
Racecourses covering all fixtures at its 15 racecourses including several major festivals such
as The Cheltenham Festival, The Randox Grand National at Aintree and The Betfred Derby at
Epsom Downs. The new contract consists of standard and additional Raceday services running
until 2029.
RaceTech service agreements are tailored to suit, supplying essential and supplementary
Raceday services, such as the provision of photo finish, video brochures, starting stalls, race
timing, public address and racecourse TV production. The service agreements also cover the
provision of goods and services outside of a Raceday, supporting racecourse upgrades and
projects.
John Bozza, Chief Executive at RaceTech said, “We are delighted to renew our service
agreement with JCR. We enjoy good relationships with the teams across all the JCR
racecourses, as we have for many years. It is a pleasure to continue to provide these services
and work with the tracks to develop their on-course technology and therefore enhance the
customer experience.”
Amy Starkey, Managing Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, added, “RaceTech play a huge
role in helping us deliver nearly 350 fixtures a year, large and small, and are responsible for
so much of what goes on behind the scenes.
“Many racegoers might not appreciate just how many aspects of a Raceday the team at
RaceTech are responsible for and how closely our teams work with theirs. We’re delighted
that this partnership is continuing.”