RV FEATURE
1882 : THE FIRST BIRDSVILLE RACES
The Birdsville Races had an auspicious start for a horse race that now tops so many people ’ s bucket-list . In spring 1882 , a group of 150 owners , managers and stockmen converged on the South Australian and Queensland border , and the first ‘ unofficial ’ Birdsville Races was held .
The racetrack on which the first Birdsville Races was run is very different from the track today . Turn back the clock 140 years , and you ’ d find a straight-lined track marked with posts 200m apart – more of a fence-line than anything else .
These races began with a flag or cable-raise to the applause of a crowd of 150 punters strong – the meet ’ s headline Border Handicap was taken by the W & W Hoodtrained Bedouin .
In late September 1882 , after the first Birdsville Races was held , 42 people sat down in the Burt & Co iron store to establish the ‘ Border Jockey Club ’. Stewards were appointed , a working committee was elected , and the next race meeting was fixed for July 1883 .
1930s : A NEW HOME
In the 1930s , the Birdsville Racetrack was moved from the western side of town to where it sits today , becoming the outback ’ s answer to Flemington . The track was 2000m in circumference with the longest race , the 1600m Birdsville Cup , starting in the back straight . Today , Birdsville remains one of only four tracks in Queensland that runs anti-clockwise .
1990 : Crowds gather next to the Birdsville track . ( Pic : Beryl Mitchell .)
/ 63