Headline photo: Heather York photos
By Cairns Amateurs
The Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy will add a golden touch to the Cairns Amateurs Sapphire Jubilee carnival in September with confirmation it will touch down in Cairns as part of its 21st annual tour spanning seven countries.
Cairns Amateurs Carnival President David Goodman said he is looking forward to welcoming the People’s Cup to the Far North as part of this year’s tour.
“Cairns Amateurs have hosted the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour in the past and the iconic trophy has always proved a hit with racegoers,” Mr Goodman said.
"Its blend of history and golden allure is a beautiful addition to our Carnival’s list of attractions.
"This is a rare opportunity to hold and be photographed with a magical and iconic piece of Australia’s sporting success."
Cairns will also be part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep which will see 24 rural and regional Cup Tour destinations across Australia allocated a barrier for the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
If Cairns draws the barrier of the Lexus Melbourne Cup winning horse, the Cairns Amateurs Carnival fundraising partner - the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - will receive a cash prize of $50,000.
From Thursday, September 7 to Saturday, September 9 2023, the Cairns Amateurs Carnival marks 65 years with its four-day Sapphire Jubilee program of fun, fashion, and racing events that include the Fashion High Tea, the President’s Cocktail Party, the Sapphire Gala Ball, and two days of racing at Ladbrokes Cannon Park.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup will be a special guest at all key events.
This year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour will begin on Saturday, June 10 in Tokyo.
Click here for further information on the Melbourne Cup Tour.
Click here to purchase tickets to Cairns Amateurs Carnival Sapphire Jubilee events.
About Cairns Amateurs Carnival
The Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club Inc was established in 1959 by the late Sir Sydney Williams OBE and Les Gallagher to introduce a coastal version of the historical Oak Park races as a way of bringing city and country people together.
The committee of 10 members spanning representatives from outback stations and Cairns businesses, presented the first ever Cairns Amateurs Carnival on September 18 and 19 1959.
In its early days, the Cairns Amateurs ran six races on each day of the two-day program and from the very outset was held under Vice-Regal patronage, with the then Governor, Sir Henry Abel Smith.
Jockeys were, as the Club’s name suggests, amateur riders – most of whom came from inland stations.
Professional riders did not compete until many years later due to changes in race regulations.
While the club expressed disappointment at the mid-1990 ruling which disallowed amateur riders from competing, the ‘amateurs’ tradition has been retained and is deeply instilled within the spirit of the club’s culture.
Today, the mission of the club is to operate a sustainable and accessible annual racing carnival showcasing the social, cultural, and commercial attributes of Cairns and the tropical north.