Crackdown on drones at Cheltenham
MARCUS TOWNEND
Moves to clamp down on the flying of drones will be rolled out at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Racemail understands the Jockey Club, owners of Cheltenham, have recruited specialist firm Crowded space to step up efforts to block drones being flown near racecourses.
The measures will cover major racing festivals this year, including the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April. Tests were carried out at Haydock on saturday.
While the operation will not physically take down rogue drones, the technology employed by Crowded space can detect when the pilot of a drone has broken any regulations, like flying too low or too close to public exclusion zones.
This evidence allows the police to be called and take immediate action once they are presented with evidence of law infringements.
Racemail revealed last month that drones mounted with cameras were being flown over British racecourses, with pictures used by punters who bet on races in-running to get an edge over punters using conventional television feeds.
However, the latest moves are understood to be more about safety and potential terrorist threats.
explaining their work on their website, Crowded space say: ‘Using the latest technology for detection, our teams stopped over 200 illegal drone flights at major events in 2018 with many arrests and prosecutions.’
News yesterday that exclusion zones for the flying of drones around airports will be extended to three miles from March 13 — the second day of the Festival — will also be welcomed by Cheltenham.
With helicopter flights into the track, Cheltenham is licensed by the CAA and the restrictions will also apply to them.
LAUriNA booked her place in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham with a comfortable six-length win over stablemate stormy island in the Quevega Hurdle at Punchestown. The mare is 7-2 third favourite.
Trainer Willie Mullins said: ‘she took a good blow and ruby (Walsh) said she needed it badly. When he asked her to move up, she moved up nicely and did everything he asked.’
Mullins’ leading Arkle Chase hope Cilaos emery has pulled a muscle and is a Festival doubt. Novice hurdler Tornado Flyer misses the meeting.
BiG orANGe, the Michael Belltrained winner of the 2017 Ascot Gold Cup, has been retired owing to injury.