Looking at Lucky?

Established in 1898, Fasig-Tipton has dominated the thoroughbred-auction industry. Ever since the company sold the great Man o’ War as a yearling in Saratoga in 1918, owners and trainers attend the sales in hopes of snaring the next Derby winner. Fasig-Tipton’s auction locations move around the country from city to city, but the company is headquartered in Lexington, KY, the historic epicenter of the thoroughbred world.
The company recently set another precedent when it deployed a mobile digital-signage network. Fasig-Tipton contracted with Hammond Communications Group to design, implement and manage the mobile network, which is built on the Philadelphia-based Scala 5 software platform. Hammond was challenged to create a cost-effective, mobile, solid-state network that could input many sources of content and redistribute the content to 65 LCD screens positioned throughout a 1-square-mile facility.
The screens combine public displays that broadcast racing content and interactive kiosks that deliver on-demand horse-specific information. Fasig-Tipton streams racing feeds during auctions to attract and excite potential thoroughbred buyers. At the same time, patrons can use a remote control to change channels and access the specific content required to make a purchase decision, such as a horse’s latest updates, workout videos and sales results. Previously, banks of TVs set up with DVD players showed pre-recorded horse performances.
To accommodate the nationwide auctions, Hammond built the system and cabled it in shock-mounted mobile racks that can be rolled in and plugged in at each auction site. The network includes two servers and more than 20 media players, providing 720p channels and supporting multiple content sources, including VGA, DVI, HDMI, SD/SDI, HD/SDI, HD cameras, live Internet streaming, OFT and satellite. The completely mobile digital signage network features:
•Six interactive touch-screen kiosks
• AS400 database integration
• Web site integration
• International racing feed capabilities on up to 10 contiguous channels;
• On-demand high-definition video library searchable by Horse ID numbers (HIPs)
• Satellite feed capabilities
• Four channels of off-the-air broadcast capability
• 65 LG high-definition displays that range from 26 to 55-inches
• High-definition Sony remote-controlled cameras for live camera feeds
• High-definition toteboard auction display.

The Scala-driven system has already supported Fasig-Tipton at more than 13 sales in five different locations.