How Australians are saying 'nup to the Melbourne Cup' this year
Don't feel like joining in the Melbourne Cup festivities this year? You're not alone.
The number of Australians choosing to boycott the race that stops the nation is growing and dozens of "alternative" events now take place every year for those wishing to say "nup to the cup".
This year at least 26 events have been organised across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, according to The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR).
They include champagne lunches, "cruelty-free" fashion shows, raffles and even a T-Rex race, where humans will be doing all the running in inflatable dinosaur costumes.
"Come protest the cup and show regular racegoers what cruelty-free fun looks like," one event in Melbourne, Fashuns on the Field, promises.
"Bin the races, TV and radio. Enjoy the Melbourne Cup as a classy individual should, with good mates and a drink in hand. A dollar from every drink sold will be donated to Horse Rescue Australia," another event in Newcastle says.
"People are certainly waking up to the truth behind this industry," CRP spokeswoman Kristin Leigh told AAP.
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She and hundreds of other people gathered at the traditional Melbourne Cup parade on Monday to protest against the treatment of former racehorses.
Standing in the rain, they chanted "blood on your hands", "animal abusers total losers" and "say nup to the cup" as the procession of trainers, owners and jockeys made their way down Swanston Street to Federation Square.
Ms Leigh said the group had been inundated with support since the ABC's 7.30 program broadcast harrowing footage of racehorses being sent to the slaughterhouse last month.
The footage showed some horses being hit, kicked, whipped and screamed at by abattoir workers before they were destroyed.
The vision was so disturbing, it even prompted a response from one of the biggest names in racing, Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman.
I am broken hearted at the ABC report. If we don’t make real changes the court of public opinion will bury racing.
— Lee Freedman (@freedman_lee) October 17, 2019
"People can't say they don't know anymore," Ms Leigh said.
"If you're going to the races this year and you saw 7.30 you are complicit in that animal abuse."
Horse trainer Fiona McIntyre, who rode a retired racehorse at the parade on Monday, said the footage was horrific.
"I think it's revolting, the abattoirs need to clean up their acts," she said.
On social media, the hashtag #NupToTheCup is already picking up steam.
It's the race that stops a nation tomorrow, but as usual, I'll be saying #NupToTheCup and donating to the @RSPCA instead. Gambling, alcohol and animal cruelty just aren't really good enough.
— Dr Nikki Stamp FRACS (@drnikkistamp) November 4, 2019
More than a decade ago, when I was new to Australia, I always wanted to attend the #MelbourneCup with my partner - I'm glad we never did !
— Nauroze Anees (@ForLovenFreedom) November 3, 2019
A Section of Australian Community clearly Enjoy & Celebrate Cruelty being inflicted, be it the Horses or Humans in Detention.#NupToTheCup
Horse racing =
— Animals Australia (@AnimalsAus) November 4, 2019
✔️ Animal cruelty
✔️ Corruption
✔️ Doping
✔️ Gambling addiction
This isn't worth celebrating. #NupToTheCup pic.twitter.com/ySy95RXIcS