ANOTHER AIRHEAD IDEA

By Graham Potter | Thursday, January 11, 2024

If reports that Channel 7 have proposed plans for jockeys to be handed AirPods before the race start so they can be interviewed by Channel 7 hosts before handing them back before the jump at the Gold Coast on Magic Millions day are true ... well what an airhead idea that is!

As reported, some jockeys apparently are unfazed by the idea, others not so keen ... but, really should the jockeys even be the first port of call.

What do the stewards think about the idea? Would they even sanction it?

What do the owners who pay the bills think about it? Would they want their jockey’s minds distracted by some ‘mindless’ questions ... and you’d bet there will be some of those.

What do the trainers have to say about it? Having a horse that is trained to the minute to be at their best needs a jockey’s full concentration and focus to bring that goal to fruition, not a casual chat to take them through the countdown.

Of course, most jockeys on Magic Millions Day are probably professional enough to shrug off this unnecessary inconvenience, but when you have the elite of the elite in James McDonald saying, as quoted on Racenet, that he already had "enough stuff running through my mind before the gates open,” and was not a fan of the concept ... surely credence should be given to his opinion.

It is true that fellow top hoop Craig Willaims holds an alternative view, with Williams being quoted in the same article as saying, “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.”

Willaims is a much-honoured achiever and a great ambassador for racing, but ... do me a favour, ‘a new audience.’

Trainers and jockeys are already interviewed before and after races, channel hosts go on ad nauseam about the form-lines ... so just how is a couple of interviews behind the gates immediately prior to the start going to win over a new racing audience?

At the time Channel 7 is showing that, the new audience that racing is searching for is out playing golf, at a restaurant, on the beach ... wherever ... but, arguably, not watching Channel 7
.
In truth, if a non-racing enthusiast switches to Channel 7 on Saturday afternoon and finds racing there, they will probably switch channels again without missing a beat.
So, call the Airpods idea what you like ... for or against ... but let’s not pretend it is anything other than a foolish gimmick which might give Channel 7 some misguided bragging rights in their own minds, but achieve little else.

**Surprise, surprise ... Channel 7 pulled the plug on the Airpod idea with the executives (as reported on Racenet) citing the fact that ‘they weren't 100 per cent happy with some issues of the technology interface and abandoned the plan for Magic Millions day.’

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