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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / The race that segments a nation: Findings from a convenience...
PloS one2021; 16(3); e0248945; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248945

The race that segments a nation: Findings from a convenience poll of attitudes toward the Melbourne Cup Thoroughbred horse race, gambling and animal cruelty.

Abstract: The annual Melbourne Cup Thoroughbred horse race has iconic status among many Australians but sits in the context of increasing criticism of the welfare of Thoroughbred racing horses and the ethics of gambling. Despite heated debates and protests playing out in the public domain, there is scant empirical research to document Australian attitudes to the Melbourne Cup, or horse racing more generally. Specifically, little is known about how support for or against the Melbourne Cup correlate with age, gender, income and level of education. To provide a more nuanced understanding of attitudes towards the cup beyond the rudimentary binaries of those who are 'for' or 'against' gambling and horse racing, the purpose of the study was to identify clusters of people with particular views. An opportunistic survey collected data on respondents' gender, age, place of residence, weekly income, employment status and highest level of education, and sought their level of agreement with six statements about the Melbourne Cup, gambling and animal cruelty. Ordinal logistic regression and Chi-square analysis were used to evaluate the age and gender of respondents in clusters respectively. Agreement with the statements revealed some significant associations. Male respondents were at greater odds for agreement with the statement: I regularly bet on horse races (OR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.78-3.22) as were respondents aged 18-19 years (OR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.13-7.35) and 20-24 years (OR = 1.90; 95% CI 1.00-3.62) compared with the median 35-40 years age bracket. Agreement with the statement: I will watch the Melbourne Cup but will not place a bet was more likely among the full-time employed (OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.10-2.32), for those aged 20-24 years (OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.16-2.95). The odds of increasing agreement with the statement: I have never been interested in the Melbourne Cup were multiplied by 0.87 (95% CI = 0.82-0.92) with each successive five-year age bracket. The most useful of the predictor variables for agreement was level of education. The odds of increasing with the statement: I have become less interested in the Melbourne Cup over recent years because of my concerns with gambling were multiplied by 1.09 (95% CI = 1.02-1.15) for each increased level of education. Agreement with the statement: I have become less interested in the Melbourne Cup because of my concerns about animal cruelty was weaker amongst male respondents (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.48-0.80), and those in increasing age brackets (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.83-0.93). A series of six clusters were identified that show how certain attributes of respondents characterise their responses. The authors labelled these clusters "Devotees" (n = 313; 30.4% of respondents), "Flaneurs" (n = 244; 21.8% of respondents), "Disapprovers" (n = 163; 15.9% of respondents), "Casuals" (n = 148; 14.4% of respondents), "Gamblers" (n = 126; 12.3% of respondents) and "Paradoxical-voters" (n = 54; 5.3% of respondents). The implications for support of the Melbourne Cup are explored.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-24 PubMed ID: 33760873PubMed Central: PMC7990293DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248945Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study explores Australians’ attitudes towards the Melbourne Cup horse race in relation to age, gender, income, and education level, along with their views on gambling and animal cruelty. The research discovered significant associations among these factors, revealing unique clusters of people and their related viewpoints.

Objectives and Methodology

  • The research aimed to understand attitudes towards the Melbourne Cup horse race beyond binary notions of support or opposition to gambling and horse racing. There was a particular focus on how these perspectives correlated with demographic factors like age, gender, income, and education level.
  • An opportunistic survey was used to collect data on these factors and respondents’ agreement level with six statements concerning the Melbourne Cup, gambling, and animal cruelty.
  • The researchers applied Ordinal logistic regression and Chi-Square analysis to determine associations and evaluate demographic elements within different clusters of respondents.

Key Findings and Analysis

  • The study found significant associations between demographic factors and attitudes towards the Melbourne Cup, gambling, and animal cruelty.
  • Male respondents and those aged 18-19 and 20-24 years were more likely to agree with the statement that they regularly bet on horse races.
  • Those who were full-time employees and/or in the 20-24 years age group were more likely to watch the Melbourne Cup but not bet on it.
  • Increased age was linked with a lack of interest in the Melbourne Cup, while an increased level of education was associated with declining interest due to concerns about gambling.
  • Males and older respondents were less likely to lose interest in the Melbourne Cup due to animal cruelty concerns.
  • The research identified six clusters of respondents with distinct attributes: “Devotees,” “Flaneurs,” “Disapprovers,” “Casuals,” “Gamblers,” and “Paradoxical-voters.”

Implications and Conclusion

  • The study provides a nuanced understanding of the varying attitudes towards the Melbourne Cup, shattering the simplistic view of those who are ‘for’ or ‘against’ gambling and horse racing.
  • Identifying specific clusters allows for better understanding of different perspectives and could inform future strategies for engagement around the Melbourne Cup and similar events.
  • These findings break new ground in the empirical understanding of Australians’ attitudes towards the Melbourne Cup and horse racing in general, with insights that could potentially serve other sectors such as the gambling industry or animal welfare advocacy.

Cite This Article

APA
Wilson BJ, Thompson KR, McGreevy PD. (2021). The race that segments a nation: Findings from a convenience poll of attitudes toward the Melbourne Cup Thoroughbred horse race, gambling and animal cruelty. PLoS One, 16(3), e0248945. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248945

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
Pages: e0248945
PII: e0248945

Researcher Affiliations

Wilson, Bethany J
  • Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Thompson, Kirrilly R
  • University of South Australia Business School, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
McGreevy, Paul D
  • Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Welfare
  • Animals
  • Attitude
  • Australia
  • Female
  • Gambling
  • Horses / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
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  2. Cameron KE, Vaughan A, McAninch MJ, Briden K, Dale A. Cross-Sectional Survey of Public Perception of Commercial Greyhound Racing in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 8;14(2).
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