The reason for going to any sports event is to see the action, and be as close to that action as possible. In Horse racing terms, this means not only getting the panoramic views of the entire course and the top shots which show the field positions changing over the furlongs, but also the low angle close ups of straining muscles and foam flecked mouths as the horses gallop past at full stretch, with the jockeys, in the drive position, crouched above them.

Production companies need to consider the merits of far more camera coverage from inside the racecourse/track, where the physical characteristics allow the 'speed and drama' to be displayed through the camera lens.

Live video inserts, sectional and cumulative timing, transponders in saddle cloths are all additional functions which can add greatly to the enjoyment of the sport, and should be standard equipment. None of this is to say that we should abandon decades of excellent coverage. It is clear however, that other sports have begun to change.

Football coverage has low angle cameras on tracks behind the goals, directly in the path of the goal - scoring ball. And for Horse Racing this is even more important, because it is all about speed - half a ton of muscle galloping at 35mph over fences and 45mph on the flat. It is 'speed' that is Horse Racing's Jewel in the Crown.