Birdsville, Queensland: Thousands of punters descend on outback town for iconic horse racing event

Thousands of jovial racegoers adorned in cowboy hats and Hawaiian shirts have descended on a tiny outback town in Queensland for an iconic day of racing. 

The 139th Birdsville Races kicked off on Sunday for the first time in two years following disruptions from the Covid pandemic. 

More than 3,000 punters have gathered in the rural town of Birdsville, located on the edges of the Simpson and Stoney deserts, to witness the 140-year tradition. 

Racegoers who travelled from all corners of Australia for the two-day event celebrated by decorating themselves with colourful hats, shirts and tutus. 

It’s by far the biggest event for the year in the tiny town of Birdsville which had a population of just 140 people in the 2016 Census. 

Thousands of brightly-dressed punters have gathered in the remote outback town of Birdsville for the 139th running of the iconic two-day event

These punters decided to celebrate the 140-year tradition by wearing matching shirts featuring cockatoos, while others wore tutus and cowboy hats

The 139th Birdsville Races kicked off on Sunday for the first time since the Covid pandemic hit Australian shores in 2019 (pictured, a group of punters wear matching shirts for the race)

Punters struggled to stay cool in the sweltering 38C temperatures during Sunday’s races

The iconic event, dubbed the ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback’, was attended by trainers and their jockeys from as far-flung as South Australia and Darwin.

Punters struggled to stay cool in the sweltering 38 degree heat on Sunday – the hottest temperatures recorded in recent history of the iconic event. 

Spectators kept cool with ice-cold beverages and many a wide-brimmed hat, as horses and their jockeys both enjoyed a cold hose down after the race. 

Gary Brook, the Vice President of the Birdsville Race Club, said the scorching temperatures didn’t take away from fun had on and off the track. 

Spectators kept cool with ice-cold beverages and many a wide-brimmed hat, as horses and their jockeys both enjoyed a cold hose down after the race

Apprentice jockey Shae Nielson (left) won her first ever race on Sunday on horse Rosaraya, to the raucous applause from the 3000-strong crowd

The 13-race program had 84 entries with the 1600m TAB Birdsville Cup on Monday offering the winning horse a record $42,000 in prize money

Gary Brook, the Vice President of the Birdsville Race Club, said the scorching temperatures didn’t take away from fun had on and off the track (pictured, punters at the entry gates)

The April 2022 Birdsville Races will offer a combined prize-purse of $262,500 across the two days of racing as well as a record-breaking trainer bonus (pictured, punters on Sunday)

‘It is so great to be back and supported so well by the thousands who travelled to join us at this special edition of the Birdsville Races,’ Mr Brook said. 

‘The excitement was palpable among racegoers, trainers and jockeys alike, and – after this weekend – we can look forward to the September 2022 races.’

The 13-race program had 84 entries with the 1600m TAB Birdsville Cup on Monday offering the winning horse a record $42,000 in prize money. 

The April 2022 Birdsville Races will offer a combined prize-purse of $262,500 across the two days of racing as well as a record-breaking trainer bonus. 

If a trainer wins both the April and September 2022 TAB Birdsville Cup races, they will receive up to $15,000 in bonuses – thought to be the biggest cash prize in the history of country racing in Queensland.

At the 2016 census, Birdsville had a population of 140 people (pictured, punters on Sunday)

Racegoers decided on a pineapple theme to commemorate the iconic racing event

‘It is so great to be back and supported so well by the thousands who travelled to join us at this special edition of the Birdsville Races,’ the vice president of the Birdsville racing club said.

Apprentice jockey Shae Nielson won her first ever race on Sunday on horse Rosaraya, prompting raucous applause from the 3000-strong crowd. 

Her trainer Todd Austion also celebrated a trainers double after winning the first of two $2000 trainers bonuses awarded on the day. 

‘I’d like to thank Birdsville for putting on a great couple of days,’ the 26-year-old jockey said of her triumph on the track. 

‘I will never forget this win and hope that I can come back again and ride at Birdsville. It’s been more than I ever thought it would be.’

Punters from across the country looking to get in on the action from the comfort of their own home can tune in to watch the 13-race line up on Sky Racing.  

Punters from across the country looking to get in on the action from the comfort of their own home can tune in to watch the 13-race line up on Sky Racing (pictured, horses race)