3 minute read
Faster than a thoroughbred thundering down the dirt straight of the iconic Birdsville race track, tickets to the bucket list 2021 Birdsville Races event sold out in record time on the first day of on-sale yesterday.
Tickets to the historic event only went on-sale at 9.00am AEST yesterday, Wednesday May 26 – and by the end of the day the entire 4,500 allocation of first round tickets to the 2021 TAB Birdsville Cup day were sold out.
"The horse has well and truly bolted on this one. We were expecting demand to be high, but never in our wildest dreams did we expect tickets to sell this fast. They went on sale at 9.00am this morning and by 9.04am 25% of our allocation were sold. And I was then watching the figures rise in thousand increments over the next few minutes. Never in the history of the event have we had such an overwhelming response. It's amazing, and we're grateful to all those people planning an outback pilgrimage to our event come September," said Gary Brook, Vice President, Birdsville Race Club.
Tickets went on-sale twelve months on from the Covid cancellation of the 2020 Birdsville Races, and the boom in domestic travel as a result of the pandemic shutting boarders has helped drive demand for the 2021 event.
Renowned as the Melbourne Cup of the outback, the 2021 Birdsville Races will be staged on Friday September 3 & Saturday September 4, with tickets only available for purchase online.
Race organisers made the decision to not sell tickets at the race track gates for the first time in the 139 year history of the event to ensure they can run a Covid safe event.
"We hope to release more tickets closer to the event in future. Those who missed out on this first early rush on tickets should register for updates via the 'BUY TICKETS' link on our website and follow our Facebook page for further updates. We need to re-group and take further advice on the most up to date Covid event rules over the coming months and will then work from there with our events team and key stakeholders on how many additional tickets we're able to release. We'd love to welcome everyone, but this isn't the year that's going to allow us to do that and run a Covid safe event," said Gary Brook.
The bucket-list experience, now in its 139th year, attracts thousands of annual visitors to Outback Queensland to enjoy the region's yabby races, street parties and various other events that lead into the big Friday and Saturday race days at the iconic Birdsville race track.
Throughout the weekend of the Birdsville Races, wide open cornflower blue skies and parched red terrain typically create a stunning backdrop for the event's two day, 13-race program.
This year, race organisers have added a new element to the ticketing, including eligibility for membership and all the benefits that come with that, to the Birdsville Races Roadies. A Roadies membership will make the Races adventure even more enjoyable.
Membership includes exciting route suggestions and travel advice from your capital city, discounts where applicable, bumper stickers, unique vehicle door stickers, plus the ability to connect with fellow Roadies via creating individual online Roadies profiles.
With the event staged in the warmth of early spring, organisers are also expecting increased demand this year with domestic and outback travel booming.
Those who make the pilgrimage to Australia's most remote town on the edge of the Simpson Desert are treated to a jam-packed weekend program of thoroughbred racing and outback entertainment.
The event also offers a stacked line-up of film and live music, cocktail parties and Fred Brophy's famous travelling boxing troupe, the legendary fun of the Birdsville Hotel, the colour and character of Fashions on the Field, stand-up paddle board and kayak hire for the Birdsville Billabong from the Birdsville Roadhouse, take a scenic flight over the region or enjoy sunsets on Big Red and the renowned camel pies of the Birdsville Bakery which has reopened under new management.
The Races will also continue its proud support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, hosting a 6 kilometre charity fun run to help fundraise for the vital service in the remote region.
The Birdsville Races are supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It's Live! In Queensland events calendar.
The organising committee comprises a network of current and former residents of Birdsville, all keen to share the magic of the outback races – keeping the event alive and in the psyche of Australian punters.
Each year, horses and trainers make the long haul trek to Birdsville, from places as far away as Darwin, Tamworth and the Sunshine Coast. Upon arrival, they set up camp under gum trees alongside the Diamantina River – creating their own community that has become as tight knit as the long-term residents of the rural township itself.
