A new $2 million horse race set to cash in on one of the biggest events on Australia’s sporting calendar has already come under heavy fire and branded as The Big Dunce.
Sydney will host The Big Dance at Royal Randwick immediately after the Melbourne Cup traditionally held on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.
The race over the mile (1600m) will be restricted to horses who have run in one of 25 NSW Country Cup.
But the bold move to capitalise on the famous race that stops the nation was already being slammed even before Racing NSW revealed more details on Wednesday.
Animal welfare protection groups and activists have been long-time critics of the Melbourne Cup, where seven horses have died in the race since 2013.
While no deaths were recorded in last year’s Melbourne Cup, Chris Waller-trained six-year-old gelding The Grinder was killed after her suffered a fracture on the same day during race eight at Royal Randwick.
The race that stops the nation will have some competition from Sydney this year (pictured, racegoers at the 2021 Melbourne Cup)
At least 149 horses died on race tracks across Australia in the last racing year between August 1 2020 to July 2021.
It was an increase from 116 deaths in the previous racing year, according to the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses.
NSW recorded the highest number of track deaths with 63 followed by Victoria (32) and Queensland (29).
Animal activists fear there will be tragic deaths if The Big Dance goes ahead and has urged Sydneysiders to say ‘Nup to the Cup’.
‘This a clear attempt of Racing NSW trying to capitalise on the demise of the Melbourne Cup,’ Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses communications director Kristin Leigh told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The Big Dance is aimed at attracting the younger generations, which have turned their backs on horse racing entertainment and exploitation.’
‘But this is just about the Melbourne Cup. A horse dies on the track every 2.5 days on average.’
‘Wherever there will be horse racing, there will be deaths at the track.’
Royal Randwick will host the $2million The Big Dance after the Melbourne Cup in run (pictured Sydney racegoers at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day)
Animal groups fear there will be tragic deaths if The Big Dance goes ahead and have urged Sydneysiders to say ‘Nup to the Cup’ (pictured, Melbourne Cup protesters)
PETA has also expressed grave concerns about the new event.
‘Australia needs another horse race like it needs another pandemic – that is, not at all,’ a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Horses already sustain catastrophic injuries and needlessly die at the Melbourne Cup year after year – animal-loving Aussies don’t want to see yet another big race in which more horses are whipped beyond their breaking point as they will be in ‘The Big Dance’.
‘The racing industry needs to end – in the meantime, anyone who supports animal abuse by placing a bet is, in our eyes, a ‘big dunce’.
Pre-race favourite Anthony Van Dyck was euthanised after breaking its leg on the home straight in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, becoming the seventh horse in seven years to die in the event.
Racegoers who head to Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day are expected to be confronted by animal rights activists (pictured protesters at Randwick last November )
Japanese runner Admire Rakti suffered a fatal heart attack in his stall after the running of the 2014 race.
In 2015, three-time Melbourne Cup placegetter Red Cadeaux suffered a fetlock fracture – the same injury as Anthony Van Dyck five years later.
In 2018 Cliffsofmoher was put down immediately after breaking a shoulder during the running of the race.
Seven Melbourne Cup starters have died in the race since 2013, including 2020 pre-Cup favourite Anthony Van Dyck (circled)
The Big Dance on November 1 will feature 25 Country Cup winners across NSW vying for the biggest amount of prize money on offer that day apart from the $8million Melbourne Cup.
A headline music act will perform following the event to make sue of the new Winx Stand.
Leading trainers believe the bold move will put a spotlight on racing in both Victoria and NSW.
‘To have another big race on Melbourne Cup Day, which is an iconic Australian Day, can only be a good thing,’ Bjorn Baker told the Daily Telegraph.
‘It is a great thing for Sydney to become part of the celebration of racing and have a big race here on the same day.’
PETA has urged Australians to boycott Melbourne Cup events at Flemington and Royal Ranwick
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