It's the race that stops a nation, but not everyone gets around the Melbourne Cup.
Millions of Aussies will down their tools or step away from their desks at 3pm today when the race gets underway, but many more actively avoid it.
Some level claims of animal cruelty.
Others hate the proliferation of gambling and drinking to excess.
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Either way, for better or worse, there's always a minority of folk who take to social media each November to explain to the rest why they hate Melbourne Cup day.
With the rain falling at Flemington and the first race already run, they've taken to twitter to vent their frustrations.
Loathe this day. Proven cruelty to animals to entertain narcissistic masses #NupToTheCup #AnimalCruelty #MelbourneCup
— Lotus (@lotus2955) November 6, 2018
This is me: I am NOT interested in the #MelbourneCup due to problem gambling AND animal welfare concerns. And having a #freelancerockstartlifestyle there are no silly office sweeps or ridiculous hat parades either! I don't even watch the race! It doesn't stop the nation anymore.. https://t.co/uZwcufpiAb
— Rachael McDiarmid (@RJMcDiarmid) November 5, 2018
Another self employed benefit. No peer pressure to fit in with the office crowd and pretend to be interested or endorse the rampant Australian gambling addiction and poor animal cruelty which embodies the #MelbourneCup For those who support it good for you. For me, no thanks!
— Geoff Trappett OAM (@InclusionMoves) November 5, 2018
Boycott #MelbourneCup It's 2018. Surely we don't need to be cruel to animals for entertainment and greed #BoycottMelbourneCup
— Dan (@jedidaniel) November 5, 2018
bit cheeky, but leave an ‘x’ if you don’t support animals being abused for human entertainment and won’t be watching the melbourne cup#MelbourneCup
— mariah 🥁 (@marwhatiah) November 5, 2018
Yay it’s that time of year again where everyone dresses up and wears gravity-defying stilettos and gets embarrassingly drunk whilst cheering on institutionalised animal cruelty 👍🏾 #MelbourneCup #saynotohorseracing
— Savi N (@Savitha91) November 5, 2018
The nation with the biggest gambling issue in the world, an abusive yet socially accepted, relationship with alcohol, and terrible history with how they treat their nature and animals, also celebrate the state holiday #MelbourneCup oh the irony (1/2)
— Hashtag Gangsta (@hashtaggangsta) November 5, 2018
Happy #MelbourneCup Day!
— Mary Lloyd (@MaryLloyd4) November 5, 2018
When we get to celebrate drinking to excess, gambling, animal cruelty, and ridiculous, single-use fashion.
On the other hand, there are plenty of people willing to rationally take the opposite point of view.
I'm proudly #vegan and a proud supporter of racing too. Because I know first hand how the industry operates and how the horses are treated. So please, stop trying to ruin The First Tuesday in November and go fight against actual animal cruelty. #MelbourneCup
— Marin Rymer (@MarinRymer) November 5, 2018
Then there's businesses and organisations just trying to jump on the hashtag, like this...
It's the race that stops a nation, and we commemorate the #MelbourneCup with our #ActionPlan. All the best to everyone participating, and please - gamble responsibly. https://t.co/Vk52Z9avl1 … #OTD #History #Melbourne @MelbourneCup #MelbCupCarnival #victoria #Australia
— Aust Conservatives (@AuConservatives) November 5, 2018
