How 19 young Australians actually feel about the Melbourne Cup

“A day of blatant animal cruelty and privilege.”

Content warning: This article mentions domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Running now for over 150 years, the annual Melbourne Cup Carnival was once named “the race that stops the nation”. But recent focus on animal welfare concerns, alcohol consumption and the wider effects of gambling has caused sentiment for the race to dwindle. Particularly since the pandemic, there seem to be more wavering feelings surrounding horse racing,

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At the same time, some say the multi-million dollar industry is a significant stimulator for the Australian economy, plus an excuse for many to take the day off work, dress up and celebrate with friends. So are young Australians saying ‘Nup to the Cup’, or getting together for a day on the field? Below, 19 Fashion Journal readers share their honest thoughts on the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Daniella*, 31, she/her

It’s cruel, outdated and barbaric.

Bree*, 29, she/her

Previously, I was envious of those who attended as it was a reason to dress up and party in the warmer weather. Now, the thought of the scale of expense and animal cruelty makes me shudder. I think the racing industry has a lot to answer for. I don’t think it’s ethical for the government to fund an event for the ‘elite” society that doesn’t generate that much profit. In tandem with that, the alcohol and gambling consumption has a detrimental impact on society

Holly*, 25, she/her

It should be banned. At best it’s a massive boozefest encouraging irresponsible gambling, at worst it’s a cesspit of animal (and human – check out the domestic violence statistics) cruelty. Nup to the cup!

Francesca*, 33, she/her

Completely indifferent. It’s another day in the calendar that comes and goes each year. For a while in my late teens and early twenties, I went to race days and enjoyed them – but I quickly realised it was more about spending time with friends than the races themselves. So now I spend more time with friends without the animal cruelty and pervasive gambling.

Eddie*, 37, he/him

It’s a terrible event that promotes and glamourises alcohol and gambling to a country that is already in debt and the middle of a cost-of-living crisis! Then with the abhorrent animal abuse issues that are brought up year after year and covered up by the industry.

Daphne*, 30, she/her

Eat the rich.

Ama*, 24, she/her

I haven’t come from a racing or gambling family, so my entire life I have viewed the Melbourne Cup as a gross display of white culture. Truly, I don’t understand it. A bunch of middle-aged White Australians and model minorities get dressed up in ugly hats and mid-knee-length dresses to get plastered while gambling in animal abuse? Boring, dated and embarrassing!

Hettie*, 30, she/her

I’m unsure. I adore the celebration of spring, festivities and fashion, but hold deep concern about the treatment of the horses. Animals being used for entertainment sits uncomfortably with me.

I feel the media and strong publicity about the negativity of horse racing continues to increase year after year, creating more public concern. I just don’t know how much to rely on as truth about how bad it actually is, although I acknowledge it does make me uncomfortable.

Pia*, 22, she/her

I’m disgusted. The use, abuse and slaughter of animals for the purposes of greed disgusts me. People (men) lose their bets and their money, get smashed and abuse their families. The cup gives wealthy assholes (and those that look up to their lifestyles) an excuse to get plastered, make fools of themselves and murder horses in the name of what? It’s a pathetic, twisted joke. I’m tired.

June*, 23, she/her

I’ve put my morals aside to work at the racing carnival for three years. You get paid a lot, but this year I just could not. Morals or not – the atmosphere is disgusting. Walking around before my shifts, I saw the horrendous outfits, the drinking, the endless canapés and the waste – so much waste. Everywhere I looked, there were huge amounts of money being thrown around like it was nothing.

All the suits and frocks scream archaic, White, heteronormativity. The cup’s attempt to rebrand away from being about horses and gambling is useless – if it was really about fashion, the ground wouldn’t be littered with equal parts high heels, fascinators and plastic cups. Everyone leaves looking dishevelled and complaining about the price of an Uber.

Eloise*, 24, she/her

The Melbourne Cup continues to lose its social license, and rightly so. As a total ethics fashion advocate, I know that spring fashion can be appreciated without the endorsement and funding of an industry exploiting and slaughtering horses. As someone passionate about ending gendered violence, the link between the Cup and rising domestic violence rates is alarming.

As a survivor, the continual revelations of child sexual abuse within the racing industry appals me. It’s not surprising that one industry is associated with so much trauma and abuse: violence begets violence. I can’t wait for it to close up shop for good.

Nisha*, 31, she/her

It’s a mixture of feelings. I feel a little uneasy about it, but I think that’s influenced by the strong feelings of others who are against it, along with the fact that I think it’s a pretty archaic event (some might refer to it as a traditional sport). I’ve never been interested in attending the Cup, because I’ve never been interested in horse racing or gambling in general.

I think that my main gripe is gambling overall, and the fact that the horses are literally bred and trained just to race, so people can bet on them. There’s something systemic about it that gives me the ick. On the other hand, I know how much a lot of people love it, including those who love and care for horses who race, as well as the number of people in the events and hospitality industry it employs.

I don’t have a problem with anyone who attends or enjoys the event, and I really love the public holiday, to be honest. I think there’s a lot of uninformed and unnecessary uproar from people who know nothing about horse racing, horse breeders, owners and jockeys but at the same time, everyone’s entitled to their opinions and is free to express them (and I can understand why they would be against the Cup).

Madeleine*, she/her

It sucks ass. Gambling, alcoholism and animal abuse? Yeah no, not cute. It sucks.

Cassie*, 39, she/her

It’s an outdated event focused on money and winning and the use of animals to do so. The fact that euthanasia of a horse due to injuries sustained is seen as ‘part of the racing industry’ is not right. This all happens behind a white sheet while the glitz and glamour of the day is spread across all media outlets.

The racing carnival also sets stupid expectations in terms of how you should look to attend, driving up consumerism and throwaway trends for each and every event of the carnival. I admittedly went to the racing carnival when I was younger as it was seen as a party day, getting drunk while dressed up. Once I learnt more, I no longer wanted to attend such events.

Jack*, 38, he/him

It’s gross. The horse racing element of it is obviously terrible but I cannot deal with the human aspect that surrounds it. The sudden horse racing experts in the office and the inability to have a few drinks while the sun’s up without ending up wanting to hit someone. Absolute vomfest.

Sienna*, 26, she/her

I grew up around Bendigo, which is about two hours north of Melbourne. In Bendigo, despite being in Victoria, we all have to work on Melbourne Cup day. Bendigo as a town (or maybe it’s the wider council region, I’ve never looked into it) doesn’t get a public holiday on the first Tuesday of each November, we get the Wednesday beforehand – Bendigo Cup.

The cup was today, and I’ve been sitting watching today’s Instagram stories from everyone. I’ve seen some girlfriend’s snaps and people celebrating throughout the day, and just before I was watching the final race. I didn’t seek out the video, it was through my friend’s story. And I was shocked. I genuinely cared about the end of the race.

Not because I knew anyone involved in the stake, but because I was so sucked into the social event it has been turned into! I feel that if I click through to the next sport, I’ve missed the opportunity to partake in office chit-chat in my new role or be sprung in an upcoming trivia night.

And then I realised I haven’t lived in Bendigo since I was nearly 19, and I haven’t seen a horse race since this time last year because I don’t care about horse racing. It doesn’t interest me. I’d rather watch the Tillies and a competitive force consistently improving, voluntarily, compete on the world’s stage.

Jacqui*, 33, she/her

It makes me spiral that so much money is put into horse racing events. I feel like how the event is presented and what actually happens are two different things. I recently spoke to someone completely unaware that horses are euthanized on the track.

Aisha*, 35, she/her

I think it’s antiquated and tasteless to celebrate a day that revolves around a cruel sport and binge drinking. The gambling it fuels is also terrible. I can think of any pros to this event. An event that celebrates getting up and heading outside would be lovely if it didn’t revolve around animal cruelty and gambling.

Rosanne*, 34, she/her

It’s something that I will never support. A day of blatant animal cruelty and privilege. Do we not remember those times in COVID when the racing could go ahead while most of us were still under restrictions? It creates death, pollution, poverty and money for people who don’t need it. There are plenty of other opportunities for people to dress up and have fun that aren’t gambling or at the expense of an animal’s life.

For more thoughts on the Melbourne Cup, head here.