Racing NSW will probably not advertise the Everest horse race on the sails of the Sydney Opera House again, after a massive backlash against the controversial promotion.
More than 1000 people gathered to shine torches, lamps and even mobile phones onto the Opera House’s sails on Tuesday night in an attempt to disrupt the display of the projection, which was displaying the barrier draw for this Saturday’s $13 million Everest Cup race.
Among the booing, jeering crowd shouting “shame on you” and “turn it off” was Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, who later told ABC radio “everything is wrong about this”.
Don't expect to see the Sydney Opera House lit up to promote horse racing again. Source: Racing NSW
But Racing NSW’s boss said he was surprised by the furious response to the projection.
"We were surprised by a little bit of the backlash behind this," Racing NSW chief executive Graeme Hinton told Channel 7’s Sunrise.
Protest against the decision to project the barrier draw results for The Everest onto the sails of the Opera House. Source: AAP
"But I think, now that everyone's seen what went to air [Tuesday night], it's a chance to put it behind us and move forward.
"With The Everest, we do want to be a bit disruptive. We want to make this an event on the world stage, so we've learned some lessons in how to make that happen."
He told Sunrise it was unlikely the Opera House’s sails would be used in a similar way again.
The response to using the Opera House was made even more vehement after broadcaster Alan Jones launched a strenuous pro-racing campaign on-air, demanding Opera house chief Louise Herron be sacked for resisting the push.
While Jones was forced to issue an apology, Ms Herron was still overruled by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the light show went ahead on Tuesday night.
CEO of the Sydney Opera House Louise Herron. Source: AAP
Ms Berejiklian has refused to rule out using the Opera House to promote further events.
“Obviously we are always about supporting events. I hear loudly what people have said about the Opera House,” she told Today.
“The Opera House guidelines have from time to time been amended, whether it’s for other sporting events or other causes. The guidelines have always been stretched in the past and the commercialisation of the Opera House has always been there,” she said.
NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian. Source: AAP
“I don’t want NSW to fall behind because other cities and states are promoting these events. These are issues that we take on board.”
