The racing industry will celebrate NAIDOC Week 2023 with three showcase races, as part of its commitment to strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Racing Queensland is proud to celebrate NAIDOC Week, which runs from July 2-9, with the races spread across all three codes:
- Greyhounds at Capalaba on Sunday, July 2 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Chase
- Thoroughbreds at Warwick on Thursday, July 6 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Race
- Harness at Albion Park on Saturday, July 15 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Pace.
The races are dedicated to acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities in Queensland and forms part of RQ’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2022-2024.
RQ Innovate RAP Artwork and NAIDOC Week branding will feature on the handler’s bibs, strappers bibs, saddle cloths, harness helmet covers, harness colours and winner’s presentation rugs at all three of the races.
The winner of each race will be presented with RQ NAIDOC Week Trophy.
“NAIDOC Week plays a pivotal role in Australia each year; providing an opportunity for all of us to recognise – and reflect – on the fact that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years,” Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said.
“As a sport, racing has long understood the power it possesses to unite communities and engender hope across Queensland.
“In addition to being one of the state’s largest employers – providing almost 16,000 full-time jobs – our racing clubs and racecourses serve as important social hubs from Cooktown to Stanthorpe and everywhere in between.
“And as we continue to operate, we are constantly striving to create respectful relationships and to provide enhanced opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - and businesses - to become involved in the Queensland racing industry.”
Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club Manager Erin Cameron say the club was proud to again be involved with NAIDOC Week celebrations.
“This is the second time as a Club we have hosted a NAIDOC event and we are looking forward to again supporting this important week,” Cameron said.
“There will be a presentation, Welcome to Country and Didgeridoo player as well, everyone will be able to see it and acknowledge it on the day.
“I am encouraging everyone to come down and help celebrate NAIDOC Week and the traditional owners of our land near the Capalaba track.”
The RQ NAIDOC Celebration Pace will coincide with a huge night of racing at Albion Park, with the inaugural running of The Hayden.
The Hayden will be used to generate funds for Shoreline, which has provided education and employment opportunities for Indigenous students since 2009.
With the winner of The Hayden advancing to the $2.1m TAB Eureka, RQ will commit 10 per cent of all prize money from The Eureka to Shoreline to assist in funding its educational programs.
“This year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations have a significant meaning to us, headlined by The Hayden and its support for Shoreline,” Albion Park Harness Racing Club Chairman Brad Steele said.
“As a part of bringing The Hayden concept to life, it was important to ensure we were able to give back to such a vital cause in Shoreline which has done so much for Indigenous students."
Click here to read more about RQ’s celebration of NAIDOC Week, as well as our Reconciliation Action Plan.