- There were no casualties at this year’s Melbourne Cup
- Comes after a horse died on the eve of the race
- But activists still complained about winner Mark Zahra
The Melbourne Cup was completed without any dead or injured horses in a major boost for the major sporting event, but animal activists still found reason to complain on Tuesday.
Mark Zahra’s Without A Fight took home the win at Flemington to cap off a stunning season, having won the Caulfield Cup late last month.
Magical Lagoon, jockeyed by Mark Du Plessis and trained by Chris Waller, finished in last place, while Right You Are failed to finish after stopping at the 200m mark.
The horse seemed to have suffered heat exhaustion but was immediately cooled down with ice water in the pre-parade area.
Racing Victoria stewards confirmed that ‘no significant findings were detected with any runners’ at the conclusion of the race.
No horse died or was injured during the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday afternoon
Racing Victoria stewards confirmed that ‘no significant findings were detected’
The latest update comes after a horse died on the eve of the race at Flemington.
The filly, Rejuvenated, was put down after being injured during training on Friday – the day before the four-day carnival officially began.
Victoria Racing Club footage shows Rejuvenated competing in a jumps out event earlier that day, where she was coming in second.
Witnesses claim Rejuvenated was injured on-track shortly after the video stopped.
Despite there being no casualties on Tuesday, animal activists took to X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, to complain about the winner, Zahra.
The Melbourne Cup has drawn criticism over the years by animal rights supporters and anti-gambling lobbies, and critics were keen to point out that Zahra was fined for excessive use of his whip during his win at Caulfield in October.
‘No surprises the winning jockey Mark Zahra of the Melbourne Cup is the same one sanctioned in the Caulfield Cup for animal cruelty (excessive whipping) of the same horse ‘Without a Fight’.
‘A farce as the prize money is so big, they simply cop the fine.’
However, animal activists still took issue with winning jockey, Mark Zahra
Another user wrote: ‘Winning jockey Mark Zahra presented with the Harry White whip after being fined $50k for overuse of the whip in the Caulfield Cup #irony.’
‘How lucky that “Without A Fight” didn’t get destroyed!’ said a third poster.
‘Horses should not be made to run in such heat, or beaten with a whip, just so people can gamble. It’s obscene.’
However, other X users mocked animal activists after the huge race passed by without a death or injury.
