- Melbourne Cup parade cancelled
- Parade was protested last year
- Parade is held on eve of race
This year’s annual Melbourne Cup Parade, a longstanding tradition where horses and jockeys are showcased on the city’s streets, has been cancelled amid a growing protest movement against the race.
Organisers of the parade, which has run every year since 1983 except over 2020-21 due to the pandemic, did not apply for funding from the City of Melbourne to host the event.
Victoria Racing Club (VRC) chief executive Steve Rosich promised that a ‘feature event’ will instead be held in the city.
‘We look forward to unveiling our plans soon for Lexus Melbourne Cup eve celebrations,’ he said.
‘We have a longstanding relationship with the City of Melbourne and our plans this year will include a feature event in the city.’
The Melbourne Cup Parade has been cancelled due to worries about protests (pictured, Lord Mayor Sally Capp at last year’s event)
![Demonstrators flocked to the parade to yell at the procession and hold graphic signs in 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/10/22/wire-76400493-1696974116-680_634x356.jpg)
Demonstrators flocked to the parade to yell at the procession and hold graphic signs in 2022
Animal rights activists have increased pressure on organisers to have it axed in recent years, with rowdy protestors doing their best to interrupt last year’s event.
Nup to the Cup demonstrators made their presence felt at the first parade since 2019.
They waved signs depicting horrific acts that have allegedly been committed against horses and yelled ‘horse racing kills’.
A dramatic photo showed the city’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp seated atop a convertible with the Cup, while protesters waved signs calling for jumps racing to be banned.
Recent growing support for movements like Nup to the Cup have seen critics begin calling the famous race ‘the race that divides the nation’ as a nod to its famous slogan, ‘the race that stops the nation’.
The parade is traditionally held on the eve of the great race, which is considered one of the most prestigious in the world.
The VRC has received funding from the City of Melbourne to run the parade in 2024, as it did in 2022, under the council’s Events Partnership Program.
The Nup To The Cup campaign has been supported heavily by Greens representatives at both the council and state level.
!['The race that stops the nation' remains incredibly popular despite the protests (pictured, winning jockey Mark Zahra celebrates Gold Trip's victory last year)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/11/00/76404787-12616675-image-a-133_1696982131017.jpg)
‘The race that stops the nation’ remains incredibly popular despite the protests (pictured, winning jockey Mark Zahra celebrates Gold Trip’s victory last year)
![The Nup To The Cup campaign has been supported heavily by Greens representatives](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/11/01/76404789-12616675-The_Nup_To_The_Cup_campaign_has_been_supported_heavily_by_Greens-a-1_1696985475387.jpg)
The Nup To The Cup campaign has been supported heavily by Greens representatives
In 2019, a Greens councillor tried to move a motion to scrap council support for the parade.
Pop superstar Taylor Swift notably cancelled her 2019 performance at the Melbourne Cup following public outcry from animal rights activists.
However, the singer cited last-minute changes to her tour as the reason for her withdrawal.
The VRC has been contacted for comment.
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