Melbourne Cup remains controversial

The Melbourne Cup is an annual horse race first held in 1861. It is the most important Australian Thoroughbred race of the year and according to many, and one of the most prestigious races in the world. “The Melbourne Cup’s reputation may be a little scratched but plenty of Australians still like to give it…

The man in the suit — Elio Celotto on the life of a horse racing protester

by RUSSELL JACKSON | 27 October 2016 Cross-posted from The Guardian Go directly to full article » As the Melbourne Cup gets under way on Tuesday, horseracing protester Elio Celotto will be enjoying a far different day of festivities to racegoers It’s Monday 2 November, 2015, and the intersection of Flinders and Swanston is closed…

Racing Official fires back after protests over Melbourne Cup deaths

(Nov. 4, 2014) — After the Melbourne Cup was marred by the deaths of two horses, animal activists protested outside Flemington Race Course, an action deemed “exploitive and ghoulish” by the head of the Australian Racing Board. Favorite Admire Rakti from Japan, who fell back in the field and finished last, collapsed and died in…