Volume 4, Issue 2, page 2

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ABC Sports Booms up 122nd
Annual Run for the Roses

By Christine C. Huenergardt

Louisville, KY--ABC's Wide World of Sports coverage of the historical Kentucky Derby employed some 42 cameras placed strategically around the Churchill Downs Raceway. The up close and exhilarating action was brought to homes worldwide, covering all 10 scheduled races of the day, including the 122nd running of the Kentucky Derby where Grindstone edged out Cavonnier in a photo finish.

Chapman's equipment covering the race was one Olympian placed along the sidelines to catch the final stretch (see diagram). Another Olympian was placed left of the Winners Circle to follow the action near the finish line, as well as, film the jockeys entering the racetrack, a Super PeeWee®, with a Cam mate atop, to catch the action at the Winner's Circle during the Ceremony of Awards, a Pedolly® Pedestal to cover the commentator, and a Titan Mobile Crane, with a Lenny Plus, utilized in a double axis configuration at the 3/4 turn.

"The schedule of events for each race is first covering the thoroughbreds at the paddock, then the jockeys, next the jockeys riding the horses through the tunnel, then the bugle, the warm up, load up, and then the bell," explains Ernie Jew, ABC's Remote Camera Crane Operator. Ray Dettore manned the Lenny Plus, while Steve Sabino manned the Titan arm. A Mini Mote, loaded with an Ikagami HL57, was mounted at the end of the Lenny Plus. The action of the race was quick and took planned synchronization from this trio team....the results were spectacular!!! Craig Janoff, Director of this event, and Craig Schiller, ABC's Technical Manager, wanted to achieve an "artistic look at the race, one from above the horses, panning with the race to intensify the 3/4 turn action", remarks Ernie Jew. All and all, the event went smoothly and we were all thankful that the weather held out as well as it did!

Above: Chapman's Lenny Plus in combination with the Titan Crane covers the action of the 3/4 turn at the 122nd Kentucky Derby.

Above: Chapman's trim profiled Olympian was placed behind the Winners Circle to catch the action of the Finish Line and to cover the jockeys coming out of the tunnel onto the race track.