While it’s still The Race That Stops The Nation, the Melbourne Cup has become increasingly polarising in recent years, with animal welfare groups drawing attention to the growing list of tragedies that has cast a shadow over the first Tuesday in November.
Melbourne Cup 2020 added to the recent run of horse deaths in the race, with Anthony Van Dyck euthanised after breaking his leg in the run.
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Horses have had a tough time in the Melbourne Cup in recent years, particularly the international runners.
Anthony Van Dyck was the seventh horse to die across the last eight Cups from 2013-2020, all foreign gallopers. Six died in the Melbourne Cup itself and one in a lead-up race on Cup Day.
Rostropovich, an Irish gelding, broke down in the 2019 Cup and was at risk of being euthanised due to a fractured pelvis. Rostropovich was ultimately saved.
The last Australian horse to die in the Melbourne Cup was New Zealand-bred Dulcify, owned by Adelaide-based trainer Colin Hayes. Dulcify had to be euthanised after breaking his pelvis in the 1979 race.
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The Melbourne Cup has become increasingly controversial due to the recent spate of horse deaths and racing will desperately hope that there are no further casualties in the 2021 edition of the race. Another horse death on the one day that non-racing people watch the sport would bring enormous scrutiny on to the industry.
RECENT MELBOURNE CUP DEATHS
2013: Verema (France)
2014: Admire Rakti (Japan), Araldo (Great Britain)
2015: Red Cadeaux (Great Britain)
2017: Regal Monarch (Great Britain) – died in Race 4 on Cup Day
2018: The Cliffsofmoher (Ireland)
2020: Anthony Van Dyck (Ireland)
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