Shackleford Wins Preakness 2011

Preakness this year was a lot of fun as usual. I spent the day before preparing to cover it and building a remote camera system.  Ian and I ran around to electronic stores and Home Depot gathering electrical and audio components to put together a system so that I could put cameras in various places to capture the race.

On the day of the race, we showed up early to set up and test the cameras.  After a few hours of setup, we were done until the 6PM race.

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Here are some of the remotes photographers set up.  This shot is typically a high shot looking at the track slightly above.  I had one camera there.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark II, 23 mm, 1/2500, f/4, ISO 200)

After setting up the cameras in the morning,  we spent the rest of the day testing the remote cameras on other races and shooting features.

We went to the roof of the clubhouse during the day to check out the view and eat lunch. I shot this panorama of Pimlico from the press box area. Click here to see this panorama large.
(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 17 mm, 1/1250, f/4, ISO 100, 7 images)

Enjoying lunch from the rooftop.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 17 mm, 1/1000, f/4, ISO 100)

One of my favorite things about Preakness are the hats. Here are a few choice selections.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 140 mm, 1/1250, f/2.8, ISO 100)

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 200 mm, 1/1000, f/2.8, ISO 100)

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 200 mm, 1/800, f/2.8, ISO 100)

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 90 mm, 1/1000, f/2.8, ISO 100)

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 125 mm, 1/4000, f/2.8, ISO 400)

American sky divers during the day:

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 200 mm, 1/5000, f/2.8, ISO 100)

The race came a little after 6PM.  I positioned myself across from the finish line in case of a close finish. I had my assistants (brother and Ian) on the other side of the track firing my remotes and ready to take my excess equipment as I ran to the winners circle.

This is my handheld shot as they crossed the finish line.  ESPN picked up this photo and ran it on the front page for several hours after the race.  An interesting tidbit: my remote rail camera is the one furthest right under the “B”.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 80 mm, 1/3200, f/2.8, ISO 400)

This is the shot of the same moment from the rail remote pictured above.

(Canon EOS 40D, 16 mm, 1/8000, f/3.2, ISO 500)

This is one of my other remote camera shots from above.

(Canon EOS 60D, 58 mm, 1/1250, f/4, ISO 400)

Shackleford jockey Jesus Castanon peers into the crowd after winning Preakness 2011.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark II, 400 mm, 1/3200, f/2.8, ISO 400)

Trainer, jockey, and owners hold the trophy.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 200 mm, 1/1600, f/2.8, ISO 200)

Front page of ESPN.com.