About 40 activists including a local MP protested the Geelong Cup on Wednesday following gruesome horse slaughter revelations in a recent ABC report.
Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick joined the protesters at Geelong Racecourse, urging racegoers to boycott the event.
“I am sure the people of Geelong are just as disgusted as me by what was exposed last week,” he said.
The protest follows an ABC report raising allegations of animal cruelty and prompting Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to announce an independent inquiry into the industry.
The report revealed potentially thousands of former racehorses being slaughtered for pet food and aired footage showing workers kicking, beating and shocking horses at slaughterhouses.
“This is an industry that has betrayed the public and betrayed its horses,” Mr Meddick said.
“They clearly cannot be trusted to regulate themselves. The sport of kings is, in reality, the sport of cruelty and corruption.”
But fellow Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur slammed the protest and rejected Mr Meddick’s call for a boycott.
Mrs McArthur acknowledged the “appalling activities” the ABC investigation revealed in a Queensland abattoir and that “no one would ever condone cruelty like this”.
“But the easy option is always to boycott, protest, ban, or to call for an enquiry, when it’s productive solutions we should be seeking,” she said.
“ABC have highlighted a particular issue, and one which must be addressed energetically – but it’s a small part of a much bigger industry.”
Mrs McArthur said government should remedy any failure to treat former racehorses humanely rather than outlaw the entire industry.
Horse racing generated billions for the economy, $400 million in State Government revenue, employment for thousands and great pleasure to the sporting public, she said.
Mrs McArthur described Mr Meddick’s call as “totally irresponsible”.
“Virtually every town in Western Victoria has a racecourse and racing club,” she said.
“Given the employment and income it provides, what is his alternative?”
