Evertz DreamCatcher technology debuts at Ascot

RaceTech deploys Evertz technology for slow-motion replays at the popular racetrack making live production and assisted video officiating support possible.

DreamCatcher, the next-generation slow-motion replay technology from Evertz, has debuted in the Royal Ascot. The workflow has been deployed by RaceTech to televise this world famous racing event for live production, archiving and VAR support for racecourse judges.

RaceTech, a company owned by British Racecourse Association, provides vehicles, cameras and mobile production equipment to capture the action at all the UK's major racecourses. In October 2018, RaceTech introduced DreamCatcher on six of its mobile units and now uses Evertz technology in more than 770 races of horses each year.

At Royal Ascot, the most important horse competition on the planet, RaceTech provided broadcast coverage to Sky Sports Racing, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Ascot TV's giant screens at the racecourse.

It also supported independent productions from betting houses and their content was made available to ITV Racing. Two DreamCatcher-equipped mobile units were employed throughout the event, including OBX, RaceTech's largest and latest vehicle that can accommodate a team of 17 people in two separate production areas and monitor up to 32 cameras.

Evertz DreamCatcher was used to record up to eight cameras per race during the five days of the competition. In addition to speeding up the workflow and providing all the essential tools needed for demanding live production, DreamCatcher also played a vital role as a recording system. video consultation of Stewards, as camera positions covered all angles, including the start, sides, gantry cameras, drones and radio-linked ENGs, to ensure that races were awarded properly and legally.

Super Slow Motion cristalino

Guy Fontaine, director of RaceTech's Media Department, says, "DreamCatcher's ability to reproduce crystal-clear Super Slow Motion was a key reason we chose this system for our production units. DreamCatcher's touch screen and quad split output to a 75" monitor allows racecourse stewards to view any split in full screen. It also offers features like zoom, jogging and slow motion so images can be scrutinized up close. by the officials in case of any dispute or violation of the rules.”

RaceTech worked closely with Evertz over a two-year period to help develop DreamCatcher for the racing industry and continues to provide input to the company's R&D team in Canada.

Steve Hathaway, Evertz UK Sales and Marketing Director, acknowledges that "We are particularly pleased to be part of RaceTech's productions with DreamCatcher and to enhance their operations and race coverage with high-quality simultaneous multi-channel HD recordings and making content more easily accessible for playback and archiving. The flexibility of DreamCatcher allows RaceTech to scale track operations according to the event, recording up to 10 cameras including slow motion. In addition, on-track race marshals can review “instantly all camera angles for the entire race as they check for infractions that could break the rules or affect the outcome of a race.”

Hathaway adds that, although widely used for sports VAR, the Evertz DreamCatcher replay system has been specifically designed to be intuitive for non-technical people, providing touch screen control that is versatile and very easy to use.

“With its dual function of race recording and race monitoring, DreamCatcher is at the heart of daily British horse racing,” he adds.