Here's a way to boost national productivity – cancel the Melbourne Cup. All work stops for two hours nationally and effectively for two days in Victoria – just to celebrate a cruel and violent event.
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Ever since Archer became famous for winning the first Melbourne Cup while already injured, a race in which two other horses died, countless other horses have suffered catastrophic injuries on the race track after being whipped mercilessly and pushed past their limits.
Last year Red Cadeaux was killed after breaking a leg during the race. The year before, one horse broke his leg and another died of a heart attack after the race.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne have discovered that half of the race horses they studied had blood in the windpipe, and nearly all of them had blood deeper in the lungs (close to 90 per cent).
Apart from trauma to the respiratory system, most horses suffer from stomach ulcers. Studies both in Sydney and in the US have discovered that over 85 per cent had lesions in the stomach lining. 'Many horses had deep, bleeding ulcers within 8 weeks of starting race preparation.
Sick and injured horses may also be given steroids, which can mask pain or make a horse run faster. Most broken-down horses don’t make headlines; they’re just quietly shipped interstate where they’re slaughtered for human consumption.
There’s nothing “sporting” about a pastime in which animals routinely suffer and die. It's time for the nation to stop the race that stops the nation.
