Horses Die. People Cheer. That’s the Melbourne Cup.

[Animal Rights Zone]

Horses Die. People Cheer. That’s the Melbourne Cup.

A written protest against ritualised harm, commodification, and national spectacle 

Every November, Australia “pauses” for the Melbourne Cup Carnival, a four-day spectacle of fashion, betting, excesses and horse racing, culminating in the so-called “race that stops a nation.” This year, Channel 9’s Eddie McGuire called it “Australia’s best sporting and social event.”

But for many, the Cup is not a celebration, it’s a national shame.

The Cost to Horses

In the 2024–25 racing season, 175 thoroughbred racehorses died on Australian racetracks, that's the highest number ever recorded by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses. That’s roughly one horse every two days. These deaths are often due to catastrophic injuries like shattered legs or heart failure, with many euthanised on the track or shortly after.

The Melbourne Cup itself has a grim history. Since 2013, seven horses have died as a direct result of injuries sustained during the race. From Anthony Van Dyck in 2020 to Verema in 2013, the list is long and tragic.

 

Commodification from Birth to Disposal

Racehorses aren’t born into sport, they’re bred into profit. Each year, thousands of foals are produced by the racing industry, not for their individuality, but for their market potential. From the moment they stand, they’re assessed for speed, conformation, and saleability.

Training begins early, often before their bones are fully developed. They’re broken in, pushed hard, and raced young, many before the age of three. Injuries are common, and those who don’t perform are discarded. Some are sold into lower-tier races. Others vanish into the slaughter pipeline.

Retirement is rare. The industry doesn’t build sanctuaries, it builds turnover.

This isn’t just cruelty. It’s commodification. Horses are treated as units of entertainment, stripped of subjectivity, and reduced to betting odds. Their lives are not theirs, they’re leased to human spectacle.

To use another species for amusement is not just lazy, it’s a failure of imagination. It’s a refusal to see others as subjects of their own lives, with preferences, relationships, and the right not to be used.

Gambling and Social Harm

Cup Day sees a spike in gambling activity, with Australians losing over $25 billion annually on betting. For many, the day ends not in celebration, but in financial distress.

A Culture of Excess

Public intoxication, violence, and waste are common. Images of inebriated racegoers, discarded heels, and trashed venues have become as iconic as the race itself.

A Misplaced Investment

With a prize pool of $10 million, the Melbourne Cup is a symbol of economic disparity. In a time of rising living costs and housing insecurity, the lavish spending on a four-day event raises urgent questions about national priorities.

We don’t need to exploit others to feel connected. Instead, we can embody    respect and compassion for others.
🐎Say #NupToTheCup. Build new traditions. Honour life.🐎

..........