For Immediate Release, 1 November 2021 

Animal Protection Groups Unite Across Australia To Say Nup To The Cup 

Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will all see protests outside the main racetrack gates, as animal protection groups unite to speak out against the use and abuse of horses in racing. 

This Melbourne Cup day, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) will join forces with Animal Liberation Queensland (ALQ), Animal Justice Party NSW, Sydney Animal Save, Animal Liberation, and Animal Justice Party WA as a united force, all working towards the same goal of ending horse racing cruelty. 

“The Nup to the Cup movement is growing stronger each year because the racing industry has proven time and time again that they only care about maximising profit, not horses” said CPR Campaign Director Elio Celotto. 

“Despite the huge concerns Australians have for the welfare of racehorses, before, during and after racing, all the racing industry is doing is the bear minimum to try to maintain their very questionable social licence” he said.

“We saw a Melbourne Cup contender, Sir Dragonet killed in training on October 16, just a week before his scheduled Cox Plate appearance. Don’t be surprised if another horse falls victim to this year’s Melbourne Cup”.

“With so much at stake, it’s Russian Roulette for the horses” Mr Celotto said. 

“This year’s efforts to redeem themselves by implementing the new ‘global safety benchmark’ in the main Spring Carnival races only, whilst ignoring the thousands of other races that put horses at risk of painful injury and death throughout the rest of the year is the perfect example” Mr Celotto said. 

“At least 149 horses were killed on Australian racetracks in the last racing year, yet nothing is being done to prevent them. When the cameras and the eyes of the world turn away, so does the concern” he said.

For the full Deathwatch 2021 report click here. 

Chay Neal, Executive Director at Animal Liberation QLD,  said “Despite the increased scrutiny on animal welfare in recent years, we’ve seen a significant increase in trackside deaths in the last twelve months.” 

“Two years on from the 7:30 report, The Final Race, we haven’t seen any meaningful improvement. Horses are still sent to slaughterhouses and knackeries and there is still no retirement plan for them. The industry only cares about one thing – how much money they can exploit these horses for in their short lives.” 

All protests will confront racegoers with large posters and banners displaying graphic images which expose the brutal reality of horse racing to racegoers, accompanied by powerful chants from protestors on a loud PA system. 

Tuesday 2 November Protest Schedule 
Melbourne
Flemington Racecourse – 10:30am – 1pm
Brisbane
Eagle Farm Racecourse – 10:30am – 12:30pm
Sydney
Royal Randwick Racecourse – 11am – 1pm
Perth
Ascot Racecourse – 9:30am – 12pm