Does it still
Posted by: Skylark
Does the Melbourne Cup still 'stop the nation"? I doubt it. In the past,someone would bring a TV into work, run a sweep, etc. I used to stop work to watch it.
Now I actively avoid it, and hold horse racing in contempt as a cruel "sport" Or is it an industry?
The " Nup to the Cup" campaign is gaining more support with every year. At 65 years, I doubt horse racing will be banned in my life time, but I can see the possibilty.
Now I actively avoid it, and hold horse racing in contempt as a cruel "sport" Or is it an industry?
The " Nup to the Cup" campaign is gaining more support with every year. At 65 years, I doubt horse racing will be banned in my life time, but I can see the possibilty.
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Comments 2
abarnes
We appear to be the same age, so I totally understand where you’re coming from. In my early working life, the Cup was huge! The portable in TVs came in, fish cocktails, chicken wings, party pies, drinks (alcoholic) in the workplace … the sweeps, yes all of it.
But I found I just stopped caring about it less and less through my 30s onwards.
I still believe it stops the nation and is a strong part of our culture; but maybe we’ve changed. Maybe it’s more a matter of we’ve endured so many cycles of the hype to what is real and what’s just noise. The Cup becomes predictable, commercial, repetitive, no longer valued, something we’ve ‘done to death.’ When I reflect on the media coverage, the age group that seem to get so wrapped up in the whole thing is what, 20-40?
That said, the work environment has also changed, the communal aspect has faded, interests have evolved, cultural tone altered and maybe it’s suffered a little under competition with other national events like Grand Finals, State of Origin, Soccer, the New Year’s Test, etc.
I’m not entirely sure about the cruelty side… I imagine the Animal Rights and Protection Authorities would be all over it, like white on rice, for any harm inflicted. But horses have and continue to play a part in many sports, dressage, show jumping, polo, rodeo, to name a few.
Good question…you got me thinking… 😊
jtmorri
No, it doesn't. It is an excuse for people to take a day off work, to get drunk and socialise.
I'd love horse racing to be banned. I find the use of animals for sport and betting to be inappropriate and dislike that the racing industry is harmful and disrespectful to animal life.