Andrews doesn't care about Flemington celebrity headcount, as model Megan Gale drops out

Model Megan Gale has joined the list of stars shunning the Melbourne Cup amid claims of widespread animal cruelty to racehorses.

The Flemington marquee regular, who is a brand ambassador for major Melbourne Cup sponsor Lexus, said she would not attend the this year's cup to be run next Tuesday.

"My decision to not attend the races was one I did not make lightly," Gale reportedly said in a statement.

It follows last month's withdrawal of US singer Taylor Swift and actress Lana Condor who last week pulled the plug on her attendance, both citing scheduling issues.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shrugged off the withdrawal of the big names from Cup events, saying the Cup is about everyday people, not celebrities.

"The Melbourne Cup is not about so-called big celebs visiting us," he told reporters.

"It's about ordinary, hard-working Victorian families who will be there in record numbers and many hundreds of thousands more who will watch the race that stops the nation.

"The Spring Carnival is an extremely important part of our major events calendar."

Mr Andrews is not attending the event himself.

Activists from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses are planning protests at the track each day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, as well as during Monday's Melbourne Cup parade.

The group said it's been inundated with support since ABC's 7.30 program broadcast footage last week of racehorses being sent to a slaughterhouse and allegations of animal cruelty at the facility.

Mr Andrews said horse welfare was taken very seriously in all codes of racing, pointing to Racing Victoria this week announcing a $25 million boost to fund an expanded welfare program.

Dating app Bumble is the only carnival sponsor to make a donation to the program, pledging $130,000.

"We were heartbroken by what we saw on the 7.30 report," spokeswoman Michelle Battersby said.

"I don't think we were in a position where we could ignore that."

Federal Greens MP Adam Bandt said even people who enjoy the races are increasingly worried about how animals are treated behind the scenes.

A royal commission into the racing industry could resolve the issue, he said.

"What seems on the face of it to be a good day out for everyone is actually built on a lot of cruelty," he told reporters in Melbourne.

The Andrews government also faced heat from Victorian Greens MP Tim Read in parliament, for allowing racehorses to be whipped.

Racing Minister Martin Pakula said whether horses are whipped is a matter for Racing Australia, as the issue needs to be dealt with nationally.