A survey of 1,003 Australians conducted in late October shows an unprecedented drop in positive engagement with the Melbourne Cup since annual polling started in 2022. Public scrutiny is mounting, with 50% of respondents arguing the race encourages unhealthy gambling habits and over a third claiming it normalises animal cruelty. Meanwhile, only 12% of surveyed individuals regularly bet on horse racing and planned to wager on the event. Even the race's status as a staple of national heritage is fading compared to previous years.
Key points
Growing ethical concerns regarding animal welfare and betting are eroding interest in the…: Growing ethical concerns regarding animal welfare and betting are eroding interest in the annual race.
Alternative movements supported by politicians and celebrities are increasingly challengi…: Alternative movements supported by politicians and celebrities are increasingly challenging the event's cultural prominence.
Recognition of the Cup as a central part of national identity has fallen significantly si…: Recognition of the Cup as a central part of national identity has fallen significantly since 2019.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
A record number of Australians are turning their backs on the Melbourne Cup, with more than two-thirds surveyed saying they have low or zero interest in the annual horse race.
Support for the Melbourne Cup has been sliding consistently for a number of years, but the Guardian Essential poll found just 9% of Australians said they had high interest in the race now – nearly half the proportion in 2025.
“The race that once stopped the nation is now just white noise for many,” Peter Lewis, chair of Essential Media, said.
The Guardian Essential poll of 1,003 Australians in late October highlights the latest erosion in popularity of the event amid growing ambivalence to the event.
Just 9% of people said they had high interest in the Cup, down 7 percentage points from 2025, with another 23% professing moderate interest, also down 3 points. About 29% of voters said they had low interest (up 5 points from last year), while another 39% said no interest at all (up 8 points).
The combined high and moderate interest came to only 32%,…
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