Melbourne Cup Still Divides Australian Horse Racing

When the Melbourne Cup 2025 is mentioned, it is invariably described as “the race which stops a nation,” but recent sentiment across Australian horse racing paints a different picture, more divided. The Melbourne Cup 2025 is, for sure, a high-profile event on the national calendar, but opinion regarding its relevance to the present generation is shifting, especially among younger generations and women.

Earlier this year, news.com.au conducted a nationwide opinion poll called The Great Aussie Debate. The survey included 50 questions and gathered over 54,000 responses and touched upon issues facing people in their daily lives in 2025, such as the cost of living and social habits. One key topic asked Australian horse racing how they feel about the Melbourne Cup 2025 today.

Survey results show a clear split: 48 per cent still support the Cup, while 52 per cent believe its time has passed. The strongest opposition came from women and younger respondents, many of whom said the event no longer holds meaning in their lives. Some described it as outdated, with little personal or cultural value.

Despite these opinions, recent data on viewership and attendance tell a different story. After several years of toning down in popularity, largely during the pandemic, the Melbourne Cup 2025 seems to be having a reboot.

The year 2023 saw Network 10’s coverage bringing in 1.68 million viewers for live and streaming views, which is 12 per cent up on last year. On an attendance front, Flemington Racecourse reached an improved figure of 84,500, which is up by 14.5 per cent year-on-year.

That trend continued in 2024. In terms of TV broadcasting, the Melbourne Cup 2025 was presented by Channel 9 and was watched by 1.91 million people during the main race. Throughout the day, the total number of viewers was 3.7 million, where the broadcast got the maximum number of audience, compared to the last year, it increased by 30.4 per cent. The largest increase was in the streaming numbers, which gathered 371,000 people, an 80.4% rise from the previous year.

The numbers indicate that the Melbourne Cup 2025 might not be losing its appeal as fast as analysts claim. Yet it also leads to questions about what interests people in the event. For some, it remains about Australian horse racing itself. For others, it’s more about social gathering, fashion, and celebration.

Within the Everest racing community, there are efforts to keep the sport relevant to newer audiences. One of the most vivid cases took place in Sydney at The Everest Racing, organized by Australian horse racing. In 2024, the gig was crowded with 50,000 people, a lot of whom were younger than 35. Its consistent triumph has been attributed to a new type of captivating motive, which is what attracts the show atmosphere and the entertainment factor.

Some traditionalists argue that the Melbourne Cup 2025 should be about the racing, not the surrounding events. They point out that younger crowds may be attending for the experience rather than a genuine interest in the sport. But this shift in motivation doesn’t necessarily mean the event is less successful, only that its role is changing.

It’s important to mention the breakthrough that women’s participation in the Australian horse racing world has gained recognition. Female success stories in this area have brought the power of change out, showing that society as a whole has become even more tolerant and, at the same time, offered something refreshing that attracts more people.

Despite that, neglect of animal rights is the main factor causing a shift in supporters’ loyalty away from the event. In recent years, discussions around Australian horse racing ethics have contributed to public skepticism. Some Australian horse racing question whether Everest racing aligns with modern attitudes on animal treatment, particularly when the focus shifts from sport to spectacle.

The Melbourne Cup 2025 is at a crossroads. While data shows that attendance and viewership have increased, the public’s attachment to the event appears to be evolving. For older generations, it may remain a longstanding tradition. For many others, especially younger Australian horse racing fans, it may carry less weight or relevance than it once did.

The challenge for organisers and stakeholders lies in acknowledging this shift without alienating either group. Maintaining its position on the national calendar may depend less on nostalgia and more on adapting the event to reflect current values and expectations.

As of now, the Melbourne Cup 2025 still pulls in large numbers, both on-site and through media coverage. But the national conversation around its meaning continues, and so does the debate about whether it still lives up to its name as the race that stops a nation.