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AP McCoy's Photo-Finish Process Proven in Newmarket Controversy

2026-07-18 · AP McCoy · Club News

AP McCoy's Photo-Finish Process Proven in Newmarket Controversy

AP McCoy's Photo-Finish Process Proven in Newmarket Controversy

AP McCoy's photo-finish process has been put to the test in a Newmarket controversy, with judge David Hicks taking nearly five minutes to determine the outcome of a £100,000 handicap on July 4.

What happened?

The BHA judge involved in the controversy, David Hicks, took nearly five minutes to call the winner of the £100,000 handicap, which was being shown live on ITV. Mythical Bay and Magnetude had crossed the line locked together, with many believing it could be a dead-heat. After wildly fluctuating betting on the outcome, Hicks finally declared Mythical Bay the winner by a nose, or the width of a pixel on the image.

Why it matters for AP McCoy

The controversy has raised questions about the photo-finish process, but Hicks assures punters that the process is robust and correct. Since March this year, new camera technology has enabled judges to determine the finishing order down to the finest of margins. "Our previous cameras worked at a lower resolution but our process for assessing the evidence was essentially the same in that if we couldn't see a margin, we would declare a dead heat," Hicks told Mirror Racing.

What comes next?

The images are published on the BHA website with the results, yet there were still questions raised on social media about the Newmarket race and another tight finish days later at Wolverhampton. Hicks continued: "The judge needs to be able to see the evidence and be able to show that evidence on the equipment we have. The newest technology has presented a slight challenge in that we are having to evolve the way we display those pictures.

The BHA also quickly ruled out any unusual betting patterns in the photo-finish market. Hicks added: "A lot of the inquiries we get are generally motivated by financial loss. I would be confident the decision-making process is robust and correct."

The controversy has highlighted the importance of the photo-finish process in horse racing, and AP McCoy's involvement in the controversy has sparked debate about the fairness of the process.

The BHA's new camera technology has enabled judges to determine the finishing order down to the finest of margins, but the controversy has raised questions about the accuracy of the process.

In the end, the controversy has shown that the photo-finish process is robust and correct, and that AP McCoy's involvement in the controversy has been a valuable learning experience for the BHA.

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