Channel 7 ditches plan for jockeys to wear AirPods on Millions day
Executives have decided they were not 100 per cent happy with some issues of the technology interface and abandoned the plan for Magic Millions day.
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Channel 7 pulled the pin at the last minute on an innovative plan for jockeys to wear AirPods pre-race on Gold Coast Magic Millions day.
The plan, exclusively revealed by Racenet last Tuesday, had been for jockeys to be handed AirPods before the race jump and be interviewed by 7 personalities including Bruce McAvaney before handing back the AirPods prior to the start.
The plan had been questioned by some racing identities, including those who mistakenly believed jockeys would wear AirPods while riding during races.
Channel 7 tested the AirPods technology on the Gold Coast track on Friday and found a few minor issues and they re-tested on race morning of the $14.25m Magic Millions day.
Executives decided they weren’t 100 per cent happy with some issues of the technology interface and abandoned the plan for Magic Millions day.
Channel 7 sources insisted pulling the pin on the plan had nothing to do with some negative feedback which had been received in some quarters.
They have pledged to make the AirPod technology part of their racing coverage in the future, most likely as soon as the Sydney autumn carnival.
The plan was questioned by some racing identities on Wednesday, including those who mistakenly believed jockeys would wear AirPods during races.
Star jockey James McDonald, who will ride Spywire in the $3m 2YO Classic, also told radio he wasn’t a big fan of the idea and claimed he had “enough stuff running through my mind before the gates open.”
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• EXCLUSIVE: Magic Millions jockeys to wear AirPods for pre-race interviews
It was a different take on Racing Victoria’s failed plan for jockeys to wear interactive ear pieces during races, which received significant criticism when revealed last year.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams was a supporter of the concept.
“I think that anything that helps bring racing a new audience is terrific, as long as the safety of horse and rider and never compromised,” he said.
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Queensland Jockeys’ Association boss Glen Prentice earlier in the week said he had briefed jockeys and that they were generally supportive of the plan.
“The jockeys were very receptive in Queensland and that was the same as the Sydney jockeys,” Prentice said.
“I didn’t get much of a response from the Victorian jockeys but normally with these things, it’s one in, all in. I think it’s a great way to go forward with fan engagement and, as long as everything is done properly, it should be a real winner.”
Originally published as Channel 7 ditches plan for jockeys to wear AirPods on Millions day
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