ARN Scratches PETA’s Melbourne Cup Ad

ARN Scratches PETA’s Melbourne Cup Ad

The Australian Radio Network (ARN) has rejected a PETA radio ad for the Melbourne Cup because it was deemed to be inappropriate content.

The 60-second spot was rejected for being too controversial, despite recent revelations that thousands of horses who had been used for racing are being sent to abattoirs across Australia.

The ad was created to sound like commentary on a typical horse race – but rather than following the action, it describes the causes of death of a number of horses, including a broken leg, a ruptured aorta, and a heart attack.

“If we were to call out every horse who’s died in the horseracing industry for entertainment, we’d be here until next spring,” the ad finishes. “Horseracing – you bet it’s cruel.”

 PETA spokesperson Emily Rice said: “What’s really offensive is whipping and drugging horses and risking their lives, all in the name of dressing up, getting drunk, and gambling.

“There’s no justification for exploiting animals for entertainment and killing them when they’re no longer considered useful, and PETA is calling on caring people everywhere to boycott the Melbourne Cup and all other horseracing events.”

In June, a PETA exposé revealed that some 3,000 Australian horses and their offspring had been sold by the Australian racing industry and killed for meat in South Korea.

The investigated abattoir has been charged with violations of the South Korean Animal Protection Act.

PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” encourages Australians to partake in one of the many “Nup the Cup” events.

ARN decline B&T‘s request for comment.




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2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival ARN

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