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.
Australia’s primary export is being good at pulling things out of the ground and building a housing ponzi. We are not nearly as innovative as we could and should be.
I think innovation used to be part of our national identity.
Nowadays the only way to develop those innovations is to take them overseas.
Indeed. As always when it comes to identity there’s a difference between how we see ourselves and reality.
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.
State of origin public holiday let’s go!
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.
I was vaguely interested in the Matildas for a hot minute when there was a chance of that resulting in a public holiday, I’m sure I could get at least a little bit invested in other sports if public holidays are involved.
The state who finishes last this year gets to pick the sport for next year.
Circuses, racing, labour, food…
When profit motive is involved humanity goes out the window. Non human animals can’t organise unions and get rights though, we have to defend them.
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.
I’m sure those photos from last year where the area around the racetrack flooded while the track itself was perfectly fine are probably on people’s minds as well.
My interest is solely in a day off. Fuck the races.
Just as a reminder about The Sport of Kings…
He is the ABC 7.30 report about the horse racing industry from 4 years ago.
The Dark Side of Australia’s Horse Racing Industry
Warning: Its pretty fuckin grim, do not watch while eating.
I don’t care for the horses but I’m completely onboard with getting the day off. We should have more holidays.
I didn’t even know it was happening until the news stories about interest rates potentially rising on the day of the race.
This year I know one of the jockeys (they used to be my Neighbors), I don’t know what horse he was on, I’m not googling it and sending that to my google algorithm, I refuse to watch it or give the industry as a whole any of my attention.
It needs to die, and the gambling that goes with it.
I love how the race has been and gone, and hasn’t warranted a post.
The winner was a horse and the jockey got the credit. It wasn’t Damien Oliver.
No the horse didn’t win, it got all beaten up with the whip towards the end. The jockey got what he wanted so he wins. The horse just got beaten up to serve the gambling industry
This is the best summary I could come up with:
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.
Despite a public holiday in Victoria and schools and workplaces stopping at 3pm for the annual ritual, 27% said they had “low interest” and 35% said “no interest” in the race, a combined total of 62%.
Young people were disengaged, with 9% of those aged 18-34 reporting high interest compared with 13% of over 55s.
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.
The figures come as an increasing number of brands and sponsors are distancing themselves from the Melbourne Cup and other racing events.
The original article contains 358 words, the summary contains 163 words. Saved 54%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
Used to be a fun way to blow off a work afternoon. It’s not the same now that I work from home :D
Remember growing up it used to be such a big event, you had stuff going on all day getting ready for the race, now… I prob’s will be to busy working to even both switching it on.
