This has been a horrible year for the Melbourne Cup marketing team, with news breaking that race horses who once lit up the tracks actually get sold to abattoirs where they are abused and then killed, often in horrid and cruel conditions.
#NupToTheCup is one of those things that feels obvious – of course we’re against animal cruelty. Of course we don’t want to abuse and murder horses. But apparently not everyone feels this way, as the festivities rage onwards.
We’ve got a previous article on why #NupToTheCup drove into the limelight last year, if you want to check out what started this movement. Or, you can check out this graphic that really underpins the horrors that go on in the racing industry.
The ugly truth about #horseracing = animal cruelty isn’t just accepted, it’s routine. 💔😡#MelbourneCup #NuptotheCup pic.twitter.com/ivFK67fNuW
— Animals Australia (@AnimalsAus) November 5, 2019
In honour of the everyday heroes that have got #NupToTheCup trending on Twitter, here’s some of our fave tweets condemning the races.
I love getting all dolled up and drinking ’til I’m shitfaced as much as the next privileged white woman, but surely it’s possible to do those things without abusing horses? #NupToTheCup
— Shami Sivasubramanian (@Shami_Siva) November 5, 2019
#NupToTheCup feels UnAustralian.
It should be #FuckTheCup instead.
— Jenna Guillaume (@JennaGuillaume) November 4, 2019
There is so much about the Melbourne Cup that makes me deeply uncomfortable but men describing their girlfriends as “fine fillies” has to be up there as the most cringeworthy. #NupToTheCup #MelbourneCup
— Jill Stark (@jillastark) 5 November 2019
Not my meme, just an old fave #NupToTheCup pic.twitter.com/7czIPO1rYH
— Mads 🏳️🌈 (@mads_mad_sad) 4 November 2019
There’s More To #NupToTheCup Than Animal Cruelty
Remember back in the 1980’s when they finally banned tobacco advertising on Australian TV? When will we ban gambling advertising? I guess we have to wait a few decades for the generational studies that will prove the harm it does to family finances. #MelbourneCup #NupToTheCup
— Peter Murphy (@PeterWMurphy1) 4 November 2019
Melbourne Cup for me: trashy, gauche; pissed; single use plastic. A gambling platform predicated on exploitation of animals, marketed as culturally significant.
In hospitality- the day no-one wants to work. #NupToTheCup @MikeCarlton01— spacekat9 (@cooten9009) 3 November 2019
#NupToTheCup is about more than horse racing. It’s also about condemning shameful public drunkenness; it’s about raising awareness that DV & assaults go thru the roof on #MelbourneCup Day; it’s about retired horses being taken to the slaughterhouse @ the end of their career🙅♀️
— Jacynta Krakouer (@JacyntaKrakouer) 4 November 2019
#NupToTheCup Trashy and Cruel pic.twitter.com/0Za2s127YK
— Larvey DARE TO STRUGGLE, DARE TO WIN Australia! (@Bukumbooee) 4 November 2019
Besides, There’s Way Better Ways To Have Fun
the only race i care about #NupToTheCup pic.twitter.com/6TaX0u220u
— Kira (@oolonggtea) November 5, 2019
The only animal cruelty I support on Melbourne Cup Day is dressing your #cat in a fascinator. ✌ #MelbourneCup #NupToTheCup #MelbourneCup2019 #horseracingkills pic.twitter.com/B3kSpq6GP7
— Jessica (@_jessticulate) 4 November 2019
Melbourne Cup Day
▪️animal cruelty
▪️stupid hats
▪️peak family violence incidentsMelbourne Cupcake Day
▪️human creativity
▪️cute aprons
▪️cupcakes are love#NupToTheCup— Tara (@tara_stevo) 4 November 2019
And Lastly, If You Realllyyyy Want To Watch Animals Race:
Why don’t we replace the Melbourne Cup Horses with politicians? Let their sponsors climb on their backs and race them around the track until they bleed from their noses and their tibia’s break? That would be just as much fun, yeah?#NupToTheCup pic.twitter.com/lN7Bd8WJ8Z
— Catherine Perry. (@CatPurry9) 3 November 2019
If you want to yell at some animals moving around on a screen guilt free today I animated the #BirdOfTheYear top 10 for you #NupToTheCup https://t.co/2qe0csgZVZ pic.twitter.com/sQnc0vnLou
— Nick Evershed (@NickEvershed) 5 November 2019
Image Sources: Twitter.