Supplied and installed by Firenze-based Project Italia, the 8 x 5 panel (9.6m x 5m) R12-ER 12mm screen utilises a Lighthouse LIP-XGA controller. Located opposite the main entrance to the racecourse and with excellent visibility from both the main stand and clubhouse, it is used to show live coverage of races from different cameras around the track, action replays, advertising and interviews.
Completed on 17 October 2009, just before the venue's first race meeting of the new season (which is also one of its biggest events of the year), the installation was supervised by Lighthouse Italy project engineers Olaf Mineo and Matteo Serone. Care needed to be taken, as the site is close to the Mediterranean and stiff westerly breezes blow across the course throughout the year.
"R12-ER panels were chosen not only for their excellent brightness and picture reproduction quality in all light levels, but also that Alfea, Ippodromo San Rossore's owning company, can rent the screen to other venues during the summer, outside its own racing season," says Alessio Giagnoni, sales manager for Lighthouse in Italy.
Another benefit of using the R12-ER screen is that it gives the course the flexibility to easily move it, if required, to provide visual reinforcements for other events such as concerts.
"Although the Ipoodromo is yet to stage events other than racing, this is something Alfea has very much in mind with its plans for developing the venue. The Lighthouse panels are very much a positive step towards that," adds Giagnoni.
"This is the biggest LED screen so far to be installed at a racecourse in Italy and everyone at San Rossore is very excited about it. It is a real statement of intent by Alfea of its commitment to investing in the facility and making this one of Italy's premier horse racing venues."
(Jim Evans)
