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OFF TO THE RACES FOR
GORDONMCKAY
A
ustralia is a gambling nation. As
a country, we spend around $18
billion each year trying to land
that elusive big win. That’s around $1,500
per person.
For me, it’s the horses; that’s what I was
raised watching – I think I placed my first
bet when I was about seven.
But more than racing, I love technology.
And over the 25-odd years since I placed
my first bet, there have been a lot of
developments in the technology that
makes racing possible.
Recently, the team from Gordon McKay
Electrical Services designed and installed
a new lighting management system at
Victoria’s Pakenham Racing Club that had
to meet the stringent requirements of
riders and horses, viewing patrons, and
local and external TV broadcasting during
the running of night races.
“Controlled spill lighting to viewing
areas provides a soft and warming effect
with zero glare, allowing patrons trackside
access without shadow obstruction,”
says Gordon McKay operations manager
Andrew Sargent.
“At the jump, horses and jockey
colours can be easily distinguished.
Focused lighting on the course proper
allows the eyes to fully fix on the race
with the 56 lighting masts vanishing into
the background.
“As the horses enter the turn, enhanced
lighting builds the excitement of the
cheering patrons all the way to the
finishing post, where back lighting and
shadow control lighting allow the colour of
a horse’s nose to determine a photo finish.
“This experience of trackside racing
is also felt by the thousands of punters
located around the world with TV
broadcast-quality lighting providing
clarity and sharpness to their viewing
from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the local
TAB or the comfort of their own lounge.”
The requirement to light two race
tracks using the existing power network,
which was incapable of handling the
increased capacity, challenged the Gordon
McKay team to develop a solution that
wouldn’t impact the overall project cost.
The original project brief asked for
a centrally-located network power
compound to be built to house the
required network equipment and one
essential power generator with an
option to provide an additional 2,000kVA
generator to power the complete site
should the need arise.
With budget restraints a major factor
in the project’s success, Gordon McKay
offered an alternative solution that
would not only create considerable
project savings but also incorporate any
future requirements.
Specifically, the team offered to split
the centrally-located compound into two
compounds, each located at the extremes
of the race course. This thinking allowed
commonly available generator sets to be
incorporated into the works at a similar
value to the original concept.
Coupled with use of today’s high
speed network solutions, the dual
compound approach allows the club
seamless control of both locations from
one central location.
“With initial tender figures far
exceeding the original budget figures
Racing Victoria and the Pakenham Racing
Club, they sort to reduce the scope
of works to ensure the future of the
proposed lighting project.
“But final tender submissions based
A VICTORIAN CONTRACTOR HAS
PUT ITS EXPERIENCE TO GOOD USE
BY LIGHTING UP A REGIONAL RACE
TRACK.
PAUL SKELTON
REPORTS.
Controlled spill lighting to viewing areas provides a soft, warming effect with zero glare.
LIGHTING
E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON
SUMME R 20 1 6