This year the Birdsville Races celebrates its 142nd anniversary, and racegoers and Birdsville locals are getting ready for another fantastic event.
The two-day event will take place on 6–7 September, and early bird tickets are now available online.
Event organisers have promised another exhilarating year of top-notch racing and celebration. “We’re bucking the trend — prices are going up on nearly everything, while we’re offering a special discounted early bird ticket price to the 2024 Birdsville Races. Those who commit early will reap the benefits,” commented the vice president of the Birdsville Race Club, Gary Brook.
There will only be a limited number of early bird tickets available in this first release, so don’t miss out on securing your spot and the savings.
A single Two-Day Early Bird General Admission Ticket costs $89.90, plus booking fees and charges. This ticket price includes bus transport to and from the Birdsville Races and Birdsville township, not to mention membership to the Birdsville Race Roadies.
On 15 May, this ticket price will rise by $10 to $99.90, plus the booking fee.
Everyone who purchases a ticket to the Birdsville Races before 30 June 2024 will automatically be mailed Roadies rally-style car sticker packs. If you’re hitting the road before this date or purchase tickets from 1 July, the stickers can be collected in Birdsville.
To find out more about the Birdsville Races Roadies and the rewards, benefits and ways to connect with other travellers it involves, head here. There’s plenty to entice, including rally-style car door stickers, discounts, travel routes that showcase the best of outback Queensland and much more.
What the event is all about
Taking place in the spectacular Simpson Desert, the Birdsville Races is an iconic event, attracting not only the locals but visitors and racers alike from all over Australia. It’s a fantastic two-day event featuring dirt track racing, fashions on the field, colourful characters and a rich heritage spanning 142 years.
“We’re the most remote races in the world, and the dusty Simpson Desert racetrack makes the Birdsville Races one of the most unique sporting events in the world,” said Gary Brook. “There’s nothing like seeing thoroughbred horses thunder down our track with plumes of dust behind them. People describe it as a bucket list experience — but we find once they’ve ticked that bucket list [item], they’re hooked, and we see them again year after year.”
“The Birdsville Races is the Melbourne Cup of the outback — and while we don’t have the Birdcage, we do offer a beautiful hospitality experience in our OBE Trackside Pavilion. And
Birdsville Races veterans, the Brook family, are returning after taking the TAB Birdsville Cup in 2023 — their first win in 23 years. The Brook’s Phillip Stokes trained the champion horse, Neodium, who will return to the desert track to defend his title in 2024.
“Neodium has just returned to work in preparation for his Birdsville campaign — he looks a treat, and we know he handles the Birdsville track. We can’t wait to bring him ‘home’ to Birdsville and have a crack at back-to-back [wins]. That said, he’s another year older and only three horses have achieved the feat in 142 years — Monee Lane in 2005/2006, Snedden in 1995/1996 and Brashleigh in 1982/1983 — so we know it’s no easy feat,” said Gary Brook.
Considered to be the Melbourne Cup of outback Queensland, the Birdsville Races have something for everyone. Enjoy fantastic hospitality in the OBE Trackside Pavilion, a colourful array of whacky outfits on Friday’s fun day or beautiful racing attire on the Saturday, not to mention the epic after party.
“It’s rare to have a small township of just 100 people swell to a population of over 6000, and when that happens in the first weekend of September, Birdsville is ready to party — whether that’s around campfires, at the iconic Birdsville Hotel or ringside at Fred Brophy’s. Our racegoers know how to have a good time,” said Ginnie Hope-Johnstone, event manager at Birdsville Race Club.
Fast facts
Where: Birdsville, Queensland
When: Friday 6 September to Saturday 7 September 2024
Cost:
- GA Early Bird tickets (two-day GA entry) cost $89.90 each, plus booking fees until 14 May 2024 — prices revert to $99.90 on 15 May 2024
- OBE Pavilion trackside VIP marquee package — Friday 6 September: $310pp plus booking fee
- OBE Pavilion trackside VIP marquee package — Saturday 7 September: $360pp plus booking fee (*tickets are limited and tend to sell out fast)
- $60 picnic boxes will also be available to purchase and will be released in the coming months.
For tickets and further information, head here.
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