A whole heap of heart went into making the recent Birdsville Races happen. They faced a less than ideal downpour of rain right before they were supposed to begin. Birdsville received not just double, but three times the town’s average rainfall for September in only one day. This resulted in the first day being a straight washout. The weekend, however, became a miracle in the same regard as the 2016 races.
A huge 24mm of rain over two days resulted in muddy campsites and a race track that was far too saturated to hold a race on. This was deja vu, reminding us of the 2016 event when a 55mm September downpour also turned the track to mud.
The weekend went ahead successfully
With many tourists travelling hundreds of kilometres to attend, organisers poured a heap of heart and effort into making sure it all came together for the rest of the weekend. This year is definitely one to remember. After all the muddy drama, the Races welcomed more than 3,000 people. Despite the conditions, the wild and wacky outfits were in full force and the vibes were high. Blue skies blessed the remainder of the weekend for the ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback’ to go ahead successfully.
140 years of the Races
This year the Birdsville Cup was taken out by Sacharo, a horse from the Northern Territory ridden by jockey Robert Faehr. It was also a very special celebration this year as the Birdsville Races turned 140 years old! For many, this event is an anticipated bucket list item and for good reason.
Held annually in Birdsville at the northern end of the famous Birdsville Track, the races bring in thousands of tourists. First born in the spring of 1882, the track back then was straight and the winner received 200 pounds for their victory. It’s now grown into a much-loved bucket list adventure for travellers, Aussies, racing enthusiasts and adventure-seekers alike.
There have been so many highlights as the years have gone by. In 1995 we saw the races broadcast live on TV for the very first time. 2003 saw the first female jockey take home the victory when Rebecca Kerwin won the race. The first ever female ambassador was announced as Indigenous model and cancer survivor, Venessa Harris, in 2018. With 140 years of history, there’s been a tonne worth remembering that folks travel to celebrate each year that goes by.
