Close finishes in horse racing are always a likely outcome, especially in some of the world’s most famous races when there is little to separate the first runners’ home.
Therefore, the advancements in technology have been vitally important to ensure a transparency when announcing the declared winner in bunch finishes.
It is imperative that results are accurate as the form of runners is an essential trend to consider, as mentioned in the 2026 horse racing betting guide by TwinSpires. But, how has photo finish technology improved in horse racing throughout history?
Early History of Photo Finishes
Photo finishes revolutionised horse racing when it was established in the 19th century, as for the first time, judges could use photography in close finishes to make accurate decisions.
However, the photo finishes from the 19th century differ to the quality that is found nowadays, with strip cameras being used for the first time at Del Mar in 1937. This wasn’t the first time that the method was attempted, but the attempt to use cameras triggered by a wire on the finishing line between 1881 and 1890 failed in terms of reliability.
It wasn’t until 1947 when the first reliable official photo finish was recorded at Epsom Racecourse. From here, technology provided by RaceTech was used at the 1948 Olympics, before being adopted for racing from the 1949 season.
Modern Day Photo Finish Cameras
With an emphasis on reliable photography to correctly and accurately call the right result in this modern day, it is unsurprising that high-quality cameras are used.
The tech sees high-speed digital imaging and computer vision algorithms used to determine the winner of close races, and it is reportedly accurate to 1/1,000th of a second. Unlike traditional photography, images are continuous and within a 1-pixel wide strip of the finishing line.
These pictures are then able to get a judge the most accurate photograph of horses crossing the finishing line, ensuring that the correct final decision can be made.
How a Photo Finish Works
Horse racing photo finishes rely on the highest quality tech, as accuracy is vitally important. Silt-scan technology takes full-frame images, with the silt used to focus on a single straight line across the track.
Continuous recording is also essential to capture the line in thousands of times per second. This could be essentially important in closer finishes, as certain images may point to one result, while a more accurate picture could indicate another outcome.
A time-based image is also used to show the runner that crosses the line first on the left, while those appearing later appear on the right. Having visual distortions is also common in a photo finish due to the image being built over time, meaning that stationary objects such as the winning post or the rails appearing like vertical lines.
In contrast, horses will appear stretched or compressed based on the speed that they are travelling when passing through the line.
Computer Vision
Computer vision is also integral to getting the correct result in a photo finish. Modern digital cameras can record up to 10,000 frames per second, while software is also required to measure the distances between the runners involved.
This is important within racing, especially handicaps, as the difference in winning margin could have a direct impact. Having multiple angles is also integral to getting accuracy on a photo finish.
Some angles may be blocked by one horse, meaning that having a back-up angle on the other side of the track, or a camera located above the runners could be essential in getting the eventual result accurate.
Photo Finishes in Action
1989 Preakness Stakes
One of the most iconic renewals of the Preakness Stakes was determined via a photo finish, with ABC Sports commentator Jim McKay calling the contest ‘the best race that I have ever witnessed’.
Sunday Silence and Easy Goer contested a duel down the stretch at Pimlico, before photos on the line captured the former with Pat Valenzuela aboard finishing in front by a nose.
2012 Grand National
Due to runners competing over four miles, photo finishes are extremely rare in the Grand National. However, an exception to that rule came in 2012 when Neptune Collonges won the closest finish to the race in history.
The Paul Nicholls-trained runner beat Sunnyhillboy by a nose. The race was a historic renewal for many reasons, including the fact that the winner was only the third grey to win Aintree’s showpiece in 173 years.
2024 Kentucky Derby
The closest finish to a Kentucky Derby since 1996 came back in 2024, as Mystik Dan managed to outstay Sierra Leone and Forever Young at Churchill Downs. Furthermore, it was the first time in the race’s history since 1947 that a three-way photo was required to declare the winner of the first race of the Triple Crown.