Churchill Downs

Siemens Building Technologies designed and installed the amazing new audio system for Louisville's legendary Churchill Downs horse racing facility, with more than 100 zones of ambient noise compensation.

Churchill Downs is home of horse racing's most famous race - the Kentucky Derby. It is also a sprawling, complex site, with a 147-acre racing track, seating for more than 48,000 spectators, housing for 1,400 horses in 47 barns, more than 500 trackside OTB (off track betting) stalls, and parking for 4,000 automobiles.

The task of routing the race announcer's voice (along with a site-wide music channel) was given to Siemens Building Technologies. The voice and music channel are distributed to almost 200 separate zones throughout the facility. "The distribution of only a few audio channels to many independent areas is a niche that Rane's Drag Net products support perfectly and inexpensively," states Siemen's Kevin Smith.

"The crystal clear, multiple-zone audio system utilizes 25 Rane RPM 88 Programmable Multiprocessors and Rane SR 3 Smart Remotes, used to easily adjust volume and source selection in many zones. Smith continues: "The few extra inputs in each area came in extra handy when local sources (pages and music) are prioritized with the main music feed and announcer audio. Kudos to Rane for such innovative design and forethought."

“The biggest challenge we faced was to design well over 100 zones of ambient noise compensation for this complex facility. We met that challenge easily, with 25 Rane RPM 88 Programmable Multiprocessors and SR 3 Smart Remotes.

"Thanks to Rane's quality processors, the ambient noise compensation worked beautifully. The most difficult part of the installation was simulating the crowd noise while we were setting up!"

Churchill Downs

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