Four horses entered in the Melbourne Cup are undergoing veterinary reviews, according to Racing Victoria officials. The assessments come as the race faces increasing scrutiny over animal welfare concerns.
The Melbourne Cup, held on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington Racecourse, is Australia's most prestigious horse race and a major cultural event. With a prize pool of $8 million, it attracts global attention, with an audience across 160 countries reaching nearly 750 million people.
However, the race has drawn criticism from animal welfare groups. Kristin Leigh, Communications Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, says eight horses have been killed at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day in the past decade. She claims a horse dies on Australian racetracks every 2.5 days on average.
Racing Victoria's Veterinary Service General Manager, Dr Grace Forbes, says new protocols have been implemented to reduce injuries, including a state-of-the-art full body CT scanner to detect stress fractures in horses before they race. Neil Wilson, Chair of the Victoria Racing Club, defends the industry, stating horses receive high levels of care including veterinary, dental, and chiropractic attention.
