The Birdsville Race Club has today released discounted early bird tickets for the 142nd edition of the iconic Birdsville Races that will run on Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7.
Keen punters who subscribe to the Birdsville Races via the website homepage can now purchase a limited number of the special early bird tickets via an exclusive link.
Tickets will then be made available at 10am Thursday, May 2 to non-subscribers.
Event organisers have promised another exhilarating year of punting, celebration and top-notch racing competition at what many have billed the ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback.’
“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,” Birdsville Race Club Vice President Gary Brook said.
There will only be a limited number of early bird tickets available in this first release.
A single two-day early bird general admission ticket to the iconic thoroughbred racing carnival is just $89.90 plus booking fees and charges.
The ticket price includes bus transport to and from the Birdsville Races and Birdsville Township as well as membership to the Birdsville Races Roadies.
On May 15, two-day GA ticket prices will rise by $10 to $99.90 plus booking fee.
Stalwarts of the Birdsville Races, the Brook family is already counting down to their hometown race meet after taking the TAB Birdsville Cup in 2023, their first Cup win in 23 years.
The Brook’s Phillip Stokes-trained Neodium led throughout to take out the prestigious TAB Birdsville Cup in 2023 and 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," Brook said.
"We can’t wait to bring him ‘home’ to Birdsville and have a crack at back-to-back.
"That said, he’s another year older and only three horses have achieved the feat in 142 years - Monee Lane in 2005/06, Snedden 1995/96 and Brashleigh in 1982/83, so we know it's no easy feat."
Staged in the spectacular Simpson Desert of Outback Queensland, the Birdsville Races have a rich history of dirt track racing, fashions on the field and colourful characters spanning 142 years.
Situated almost 1,600 kilometres west of Brisbane, the town is one of Australia’s most remote, attracting close to 7000 fans each year, who make the annual pilgrimage to experience the magic of the event.
Ranked in Trip Advisor's top 10 of Australia’s iconic horse racing tracks, the Birdsville racetrack is the only dirt racetrack to be included amongst the green turf of other renowned thoroughbred racing destinations such as Flemington, Rosehill and Royal Randwick.
The iconic meeting generates millions of dollars in tourism spending for Outback Queensland, as well as supporting the important outback medical work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The combined prize money for the 13-race carnival will top more than $300,000, with bonuses also up for grabs across the two days of racing that includes the $50,000 Birdsville Cup.
The total prize pool for the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival, which includes the Birdsville Races as well as the Betoota and Bedourie Races, sits at $452,000 - making it the richest two weeks of racing in Outback Queensland.
Click here for further information on the Birdsville Races.