For Immediate Release, Monday 13 March 2023

A Growing Chorus Will Say Nup to the Adelaide Cup
CPR/ALSA/Canine Cup/Greens

CPR/ALSA Protest
When: TODAY – Monday 13 March 10am
Where: Morphettville Racecourse – main entrance on Anzac Hwy

Canine Cup Event
When: TODAY – Monday 13 March 12 – 4pm
Where: Plant 4, Bowden – 5 Third Street, Bowden SA

Nup to the Cup is a growing national movement, and that includes the caring people of Adelaide and surrounds.  

Adelaidians can get their protest on outside the Morphettville track with the Coaliion for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) and Animal Liberaton South Australia (ALSA). Or, they can instead choose to enjoy the celebration for the ‘race that makes the nation paws!’ at Plant 4 Bowden – Adelaide’s biggest cruelty free alternative to ‘a day at the races’ made for animal lovers.

“The event is filled with all the fashion, fun, food and photo ops of a race day, but none of the cruelty” said Dani Slocombe, who created the annual Canine Cup event after she saw Regal Monarch lose his life in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

“There will be plenty of eateries to choose from and incredible prizes up for grabs, as attendees watch six adorable races of pups running for fun on the big screens” she said. 

All funds raised go to Freedom Hill Sanctuary, who rescue and rehabilitate ex race horses, greyhounds and commonly farmed animals.

This event is in it’s fifth year and has sold out with over 200 people in attendance each time. 

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses are big supporters of the Canine Cup. 

“Every year we see more and more people turning away from the cruelty inherent to horse racing by saying Nup to the Cup” said Campaign Director for CPR, Elio Celotto.

“The Canine Cup is yet another example of the many fantastic ways people can dress up and have fun without the cruelty.”

“It is such a great concept and the dogs are very clearly not being forced to do anything, unlike animals used in the racing industry. They look like they are having an absolute ball” said Mr Celotto.

CPR lanched a brand new website and marketing campaign last year, with the long-term goal of the Nup to the Cup movement taking over the Melbourne Cup, the Adelaide Cup and all other Cup events across the country. 

“In just over one year, eleven horses (that we know of) have lost their lives on South Australian tracks due to injuries sustained whilst being used to race. Four of those horses were killed at the home of the Adelaide Cup – Morphettville.

“Whilst it has been fantastic to see South Australia outlaw jumps racing, the cruel industry of horse racing remains.” Mr Celotto said.

South Australia Greens MP, Tammy Franks, responsible for bringing the legislation to ban jumps racing to parliament, yet again joins the growing chorus of those saying Nup to the Cup. 

“South Australia’s racing industry is inhumane, deadly, and incompatible with animal welfare. When gambling is done with flesh and blood, there will inevitably be very few winners and many, many losers. 
 
After years of exposes on the cruelty of the horse racing industry and ongoing concerns about the power and influence of the gambling industry, it is beyond time to shut this industry down.
 
More and more South Australians are saying ‘Nup to the Cup’, rejecting cruelty and the use of animals as entertainment in recognition that this industry is inherently cruel, and not something that our state should be supporting into the future” she said.

A video of the 2020 Canine Cup, Melbourne Cup edition, can be viewed here.

A previous Canine Cup event, where attendees watch the race on the big screen can be viewed here. 

Tickets to the Canine Cup available here.
More information on the CPR and ALSA protest available here.