Punters are switching off the Melbourne Cup, with a majority of Australians reporting they have little or no interest in what was once “the race that stops the nation”.
According to the latest Essential poll of 1,049 voters, just 11% reported a “high interest” in the Melbourne Cup, down five points from when the question was asked before the 2022 race.
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Despite a lack of personal interest, two-thirds (65%) of respondents agreed the Melbourne Cup is a unique part of Australia’s national identity, down seven points. Just 50% of those aged 18 to 34 agreed.
About half (48%) said it promotes unhealthy gambling behaviour. More than a third (36%) said it normalises animal cruelty, up two points since 2022.
The figures come as an increasing number of brands and sponsors are distancing themselves from the Melbourne Cup and other racing events.
Animal abuse, gambling and alcohol… Such an important day to the nation.
You forgot, it’s also an opportunity for wealthy people to get a tax write-off for a free trip to Melbourne and network amongst themselves.
The one time I went to the race, when the actual race started, I sat with my back against the fence on my phone and didn’t even bother watching it.
It’s such a stupid event
So gambling is how a nation defines itself? Not science or innovation or having the brightest students or the most entrepreneurial business people or producing the most food but gambling on farm yard animals… Wow, that’s weak!
There are several aspects of the Australian identity that look unflattering to modern eyes—gambling and drinking to excess come to mind. These things change slowly but they do change.
Incidentally I do think innovation is a valued aspect of the Australian identity.
This shit is barbaric. The whole sport / industry is. I used to know a guy that rescues former race horses and his stories were brutal. The way these horses are trained leaves them with permanent and painful impairments. If humans want to consentually ride the shit out of each other for sport, then whatever who gives a shit. Whack a public holiday on it and call it a culturally significant event. Just leave the horses out of it.
Only for the state that wins though. Then it would get so much more intense.
Could you imagine a state vs state tournament series where the winning state gets a public holiday?!
They could change the sports also: AFL/Rugby/Cricket/Soccer/Basketball/netball so you don’t get a single state perpetually dominating.
Man, I’d care so much about that sport for those weeks.
It used to be a bigger deal, even 5 years ago. It’s lost it’s sheen as gambling has become more pervasive and people seek to actively avoid it. It’s hard to just have a one off flutter as you get bombarded with emails or advertising if you even venture in that direction online.
I think it’s a little bit of people losing interest as it is cruel, a little bit losing interest as gambling is a problem, a little bit covid eliminating the workplace aspect in the last few years. When it’s part of the zeitgeist, it’s self perpetuating. Once people are over it, it dies off quite quickly. Given the history, there will.probably be continued interest at a lower level for a long time, but nothing like the past events.
My interest is solely in a day off. Fuck the races.
