A SOUTH-WEST company will be providing a bird’s eye view of some of Victoria’s biggest horse races.
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In a world first, Warrnambool’s Aerial Vision Services has joined with Aerial Sports and Entertainment Vision and Thoroughbred Racing Productions to provide drone footage of races at Flemington, Caulfield, Sandown and Moonee Valley.
Aerial Vision Services managing director Larry Lawson said it was an exciting project for the company.
“We don’t believe anybody is doing this in the world,” Mr Lawson said.
He admits he had some initial reservations about the project, given the challenges. “It’s extremely challenging,” Mr Lawson said.
He said it took a great deal of skill to navigate the drone around the circular track following race horses, which travel at speeds of up to 60km/h. “On a circular track you’re challenged by wind in four different directions. You’re at the mercy of the weather.”
The three companies have completed extensive trials at most of the state’s major racecourses in the past two years and will use its drone to film races for the third week on Saturday at Flemington.
“We’re into our third week of 13 weeks,” Mr Lawson said.
“Hopefully after that we will get a full-time trial.”
Mr Lawson has a team of four to film the races from the centre of the racecourse.
The footage is provided in real time to stewards and is broadcast by Racing.com
Mr Lawson said he was excited about the project and hopes to look at filming other sports with drones in the future.