We Asked Student Edge Members How They Feel About The Melbourne Cup

Should ‘the race that stops a nation’ be stopped?

The Melbourne Cup took place yesterday, and French horse Gold Trip, ridden by Victorian jockey Mark Zahra, took out the race, winning a cool $4.4 million.

The Melbourne Cup is one of Australia’s most iconic, storied and popular sporting events, having taken place once a year for the past 162 years.

But in recent years, dissent to the race has been growing, with opponents citing animal cruelty, sexism and gambling concerns as negative aspects of the yearly event.

Melbourne Cup is one of the worst days of the year for domestic violence, alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and problem gambling. It's also a pretty bad day for horses. Time for us to be the nation that stops the race. #NupToTheCup

— Jill Stark (@jillastark) October 31, 2022

We asked Student Edge Members how they felt about the race.

40% of people responding said they were opposed to the Melbourne Cup, and 45% said they were indifferent to it.

That left only 15% of respondents who said they would celebrate the race.

Most members being indifferent to the Cup fits the trend we’ve seen over the past few years, especially among young Australians.

The amount of people engaging with the Melbourne Cup has declined significantly over the past decade.

In 2012, more than 2.7 million Australians tuned into the race on TV – this year that number dropped to just 1.02 million.

Interesting look by @tvtonightau at the TV ratings for the Melbourne Cup over the last decade.

Note: the figures don’t include viewing in bars, offices and Cup Day parties etc. pic.twitter.com/scNfAFkx3O

— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) November 2, 2022

This year’s cup also saw significant opposition from protestors, with some blocking access to Flemington racecourse, others brandishing signs and chants, and some even breaking into the ceremony to try and disrupt the events.

One protestor broke into Flemington in the early hours of the morning, pouring an unidentified “black sludge” across the course.

JUST IN: Footage has emerged of an unknown offender breaking into Flemington Racecourse and pouring an oily substance across the track ahead of the Melbourne Cup. #9News pic.twitter.com/SLytkLGN7K

— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) November 1, 2022

Animal Rights Activist Tash Peterson took to the cup, standing outside the entrance covered in fake blood, holding a sign that read “RIP” and “horse racing kills”

“These animals fight for their lives up until their very last breath after a life of abuse and torture,” she told racegoers.

Sweep, sweep, sweep.
My cartoon in today's @theage (and perhaps @smh) pic.twitter.com/Oa2BPuULew

— Megan Herbert (@meganjherbert) October 31, 2022

The Melbourne Cup is one of Australia’s oldest and most popular traditions, but with changing attitudes and priorities, the future of the race looks unclear.