Melbourne Cup 2019: Taylor Swift target of animal activist backlash

The pop star is the latest target of “extremist” activists over her Melbourne Cup performance.

Taylor Swift has come under fire from animal activists for agreeing to perform at the Melbourne Cup. Picture:

Taylor Swift is the latest target of “extremist” animal activists after it was confirmed the internationally renowned pop star would perform at the Melbourne Cup.

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #NupToTheCup on Thursday in an attempt to convince Swift to pull out of performing at Flemington on November 5.

"Taylor Swift has put money before compassion by agreeing to perform at the 2019 Melbourne Cup," the group posted online in the wake of the announcement.

"Horses are being killed for gambling profits and entertainment. If Taylor Swift cares at all about other animals the way she appears to care about cats, she will cancel her show and make a strong statement that animal abuse is unacceptable."

Star trainer Ciaron Maher described the campaign as “pathetic” and said the activists did not understand the industry.

“That's ridiculous, they [the activists] don’t understand horse racing and they don't under the care and love that goes into it,” he said.

When The Australian asked Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse about the campaign she said: “I think there’s a million-in-one chance.”

Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula said he was confident that reasonable people would not be swayed by the activists.

“Last week this organisation disrupted the premiere of Ride Like a Girl and now they want to deny fans the chance to see Taylor Swift at Flemington,’’ Mr Pakula said.

‘’I think most reasonable people recognise extreme views when they see them.”

The Coalition for the Protection of Race Horses stormed the world premiere of Ride Like a Girl, a biopic based on the life of female jockey Michelle Payne, on Sunday brandishing signs stating “Horse racing kills” and “Jockeys choose, horses don’t”.

Mr Pakula said the racing industry poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the state economy.

“Racing employs tens of thousands of people and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to our economy,” he said. “That won’t be put at risk because of bullying tactics by a noisy minority.”

Racing contributes $4.3 billion to the economy and helps sustain more than 33,000 jobs in the state.

Victoria Racing Club chief executive Neil Wilson said the club was working closely with the racing industry to ensure the wellbeing of horses.

“The VRC acknowledges concerns about horse welfare from sections of the community and works closely with the racing industry to provide the safest conditions for all horses and riders taking to the track during the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” Mr Wilson said.

An inquiry into animal rights activism is underway in Victoria after hundreds of vegan activists launched co-ordinated protests in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Swift is scheduled to perform two songs on Cup day from her new album Lover, which is Australia's highest-selling album for the year with more than one billion streams in the nation already.

“I can't wait to come to Melbourne, and I can't wait to come to the Melbourne Cup,” she told the Herald Sun. "I've heard so much about the race."

The performance will be Swift's only public appearance while in Australia.