Birdsville Races

Horses flying past on the Birdsville Racetrack, circa 1926

The Birdsville Races are horse races held each year in September in the Queensland, Australia, town of Birdsville. Funds are raised in aid of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. The population is swelled from about 100 to around 7,000 people for the two-day event.[1]

As Birdsville is very remote, many travellers come by air and hundreds of aircraft fill the town's airstrip.[2] The town of Quilpie celebrates the event by welcoming travellers who are heading westwards to Birdsville by road.[3]

History

The first races were run in the town in 1882. The club that convened the meeting was originally called the Birdsville Amateur Turf Club. It later changed to the Diamantina Amateur Race Club as it also convened the Betoota race meeting. In 1990 it separated from Betoota and became the Birdsville Race Club Incorporated.

The 2007 races were affected by a national outbreak of horse flu.[4] The 2009 event attracted a crowd estimated at around 7,000, requiring 20 extra police to be temporarily posted to the small town.[5] The 2010 races were cancelled for only the third time in the events history, and the first time due to flooding; this did not prevent visitors partying, and betting on 'phantom' races.

Races

Weighing in at the Birdsville Races Queensland, circa 1926

In the past the Birdsville races have included:

See also

References

  1. "Birdsville population swells ahead of races". ABC News Online (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 1 September 2005. Retrieved 2006-04-18.
  2. Stich, Uli (2003). "Hundreds of planes visiting the Birdsville races". Birdsville Outback Queensland Australia. www.ulistich.com. Retrieved 2006-04-18.
  3. Chrissy Arthur. "Birdsville braces for race meet influx". ABC North West Queensland (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  4. "Horse flu hits Birdsville Cup, but party goes on". Herald Sun (News Corporation). 28 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  5. "Birdsville Races 'one of our best'". ABC Western Queensland (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 6 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.

External links

Coordinates: 25°55′01″S 139°22′59″E / 25.917°S 139.383°E / -25.917; 139.383

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