With a horse dying every two days, we must stop the Melbourne Cup’s ‘carnival of cruelty’
With a horse dying every two days, we must stop the Melbourne Cup’s ‘carnival of cruelty’ | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news With a horse dying every two days, we must stop the Melbourne Cup’s ‘carnival of cruelty’ 2025-11-04 On Melbourne Cup Day, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Animal Welfare, is calling for horse racing to be shut down, and for dirty political donations from gambling companies to be banned once and for all.
The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses published its annual Deathwatch report in October and found that 2024-2025 was the deadliest season for racehorses on record. On average, at least one horse died every 2 days. The racing industry is doing everything it can to escape scrutiny.
Public records obscure the number of horses who die or are euthanised during racing, and horses that break down or are injured mid-race are swiftly erased from public footage , with no transparency over when or how footage has been edited. Last racing season, the industry didn’t release wagering data for the first time in decades. It is only through the hard work of dedicated activists that we know the full extent of the barbarism these horses are subject to.
Lines attributable to Greens Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Senator Mehreen Faruqi: “Things keep going from bad to worse for horses in the racing industry yet the media, politicians and their mates in toxic gambling companies continue to pretend everything is okay. This is a stain on our nation. “Horse racing is not a sport, it is legalised cruelty for profit.
The industry not only sacrifices horses, it goes to great lengths to hide its cruel and disgusting underbelly. “Today, federal parliamentarians will be toasting to this cruelty, lunching in the Speaker’s Courtyard while more and more horses suffer horrific deaths to feed the gambling industry’s profits. “It is time to stop treating animals as disposable commodities.
Both the Liberals and Labor receive political donations from gambling companies, who profit off losses that are ripped from vulnerable communities. The Melbourne Cup spectacle comes at a deadly cost to both animals and communities. “Let us end this carnival of cruelty, rehabilitate and rehome the horses, and stop the corrosive influence of gambling donations on our politics by banning them outright.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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