Opera House row: Everest betting suspended

The barrier draw for the $13 million horse race at the centre of a row over use of the Opera House has been done in private.

An artist’s impression of the Everest barrier draw being projected onto the Sydney Opera House.

The Australian Turf Club and Godolphin have substituted Osborne Bulls for Home Of The Brave, who was withdrawn while betting was suspended on The Everest, the barrier draw for the $13 million race having been held in camera.

Home Of The Brave was scratched on veterinary advice after being found to have an elevated temperature.

Osborne Bulls was the favourite for Sydney Stakes – The Everest consolation.

Racing NSW stewards today conducted the barrier draw in preparation for this evening’s Opera House barrier draw presentation.

Racing NSW has taken the decision to conduct the draw prior to the event to circumvent any security risks that may exist.

“The results of the barrier draw have been held in confidence by Racing NSW Stewards to ensure they are not publicly known until this evening,” a statement read.

“To avoid any perceived integrity risk, Racing NSW has determined that all betting on the 2018 The TAB Everest be suspended commencing at 12pm today (9 October 2018), until the final barriers have been publicly displayed this evening.”

Betting on the $13 million The Everest horse race has been suspended until tonight’s controversial barrier draw event at the Sydney Opera House. with Racing NSW stewards citing “security risks”.

The plan to promote The Everest by projecting images promoting the barrier draw onto the sails of the Sydney landmark has drawn fiery debate.

Meanwhile, anti-gambling campaigner Tim Costello has attacked the use of the Opera House sails to promote the Everest, saying that unlike other sports such as AFL, rugby and cricket, racing only exists for gambling.

“If there wasn’t gambling, there would be no racing at all, whether it’s greyhounds, horses, it is purely to actually allow people to gamble,” Mr Costello told Sky News.

“The second thing is that this is the greatest gambling nation on earth: per capita losses $1000 per head.

“That’s 40 per cent higher than the next country, which is $600 losses per head. It is utterly out of control here, and this is what this issue really shows if you go deeper.”

Mr Costello said other countries would not use their landmarks to promote a horse race.

“This argument about tourism, look, in Italy they have banned all gambling advertising, so you’re not going to see the Colosseum in Rome used, you’re not going to see the Statue of Liberty in America used,” he said.

“For the Opera House to be used for what is a very powerful industry — racing is up seven per cent in income to $3.3 billion — they don’t need this free kick.

“Put faces of kids on Nauru up there, that’s not commercial, but not racing.”

Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo accused those opposed to the Opera House being used to advertise the Everest race of “inconsistency”.

“Sometimes people are saying ‘oh, it’s fine to have a Wallabies logo up there, it’s fine to have other sporting events up there’, but they’re not going to allow a horseracing logo up there,” Mr Ciobo said.

“I mean I think part of the acute reason why you’re seeing this debate is because there doesn’t appear to be a lot of clarity around what is in and what is out when it comes to advertising on the Opera House sails.

“What I’m making clear is that they should have clear, black and white guidelines about what will be allowed and what won’t be allowed, and then everyone knows the rules that they have to abide by.”

The NSW Heritage Trust yesterday claimed the use of the Opera House sails for the richest thoroughbred race in Australia was “probably illegal” despite major companies using the sails before.

The warning, a protest and death threats are unlikely to stop the sails lighting up tonight after NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian dug in and said she was “confident and comfortable” with her government’s decision to promote the one-year-old horserace which generates $100m for the state.

Heritage Trust conservation director Graham Quint said the NSW Heritage Act made it clear that projecting colours and images on to the Opera House sails should be “confined to exceptional, non-commercial occasions of brief duration”.

He said it also appeared to be in breach of the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act.

Samsung and the Wallabies have previously produced illustrations on the sails.

Racing chief executive Peter V’Landys had wanted to use the Harbour Bridge but the government suggested the Opera House sails.

NSW Racing was in emergency talks yesterday after reports there had been “death threats”, raising security concerns for today’s proposed Opera House event where the barrier draw will be announced for The Everest.

NSW police last night were “unaware” of any reported threats.

The public outcry over the decision has escalated since Friday’s on-air clash between 2GB radio broadcaster Alan Jones and Opera House chief executive Louise Herron, in which Jones publicly savaged her for objecting to the use of the Opera House sails as a “billboard”.

NSW police are steeled for a protest at the Opera House tonight by a group calling themselves Defend The Sydney Opera House. The group has urged its 13,000 followers to “merge with the crowd” and cause maximum disruption.

Scott Morrison’s decision to weigh in antagonised critics.

The Prime Minister accused critics of being “precious” and suggested they “have a little lie down”.

Bill Shorten retaliated, accusing Mr Morrison of failing to respect our “national treasure”.

“You’re not a marketing executive, you’re the Prime Minister”, he said.