Famed TV commentator Bruce McAvany has issued a six-word damning statement about how the Melbourne Cup has changed for the worse.

The Melbourne Cup is at risk of losing its status as the “race that stops the nation” as a leading racing commentator lays bare the reality of the race’s future in six words.

The Cup was first held in 1861 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, and has since become the highlight of the country’s racing calendar.

Australia’s most famous horse race has become an annual public holiday in Victoria, attracting millions of Australian and international spectators, including casuals who only watch one race a year.

It’s a beloved event that leading race commentator Bruce McAvaney has enjoyed since childhood and covered for four decades.

But now the Channel 7 icon has warned the Melbourne Cup’s time at the pinnacle of Australian sport is coming to an end.

“This is no longer stopping the nation,” McAvaney said.

“I feel within the racing community the Melbourne Cup has diminished a bit, but for those who don’t race or race once a year, it has diminished significantly.

“A few years ago people might not have been enamored with the magic of the Cup, but they weren’t aggressively anti-racing. Today, more and more people are turning away from racing.

“It is being challenged by Everest, which has only been around for eight years, and the Cox Plate is approaching.

Melbourne Cup crowd numbers have varied over time, with attendance peaking in 2003 when more than 122,000 spectators filled Flemington Racecourse.

Throughout the 2000s, attendance often remained high, typically around 100,000; however, there have been fluctuations in recent years.

Attendance in 2022 was approximately 71,000, down nearly 30,000 from previous years.

While 84,000 people filled Flemington in 2023, McEvaney said other competitions such as the AFL Grand Final had overtaken the Melbourne Cup.

“It was a huge event…it was about suburbs and neighborhoods, and it was for one race. It was by far the largest sporting event in the country. They had a big lead in the (then) VFL (now AFL) grand final,” McEvaney said.

The introduction of Everest in 2017 has also brought new competition to the Melbourne Cup, as Australia’s richest race attracts high-profile horses, trainers and owners from around the world.

With Everest’s timing in mid-October, it attracts a younger crowd and has drawn some attention away from the Melbourne Cup ahead of the spring racing season.

The 2024 Melbourne Cup promises exciting competition with several top contenders vying for the prestigious title, but fan favorite Via Sistina will not race after being withdrawn by her owners.

Early favorites include Without A Fight, last year’s Cup winner, and Vauban, an impressive Irish stayer who has performed well in recent European races.

Also attracting attention are Gold Trip, the 2022 Melbourne Cup champion, and Soulcombe, an up-and-coming local runner, making this year’s race an attractive mix of international and local talent.