Racing Queensland NAIDOC Week celebrations unveiled

The Queensland racing industry will come together in celebration of NAIDOC Week 2025 with a trio of showcase races, as part of its commitment to strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Racing Queensland’s celebration of NAIDOC Week, which runs from July 6 to 13, will see a dedicated race held across the three codes:

• Greyhounds at The Q on Saturday, July 5 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Chase;
• Harness at Marburg on Sunday, July 6 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Pace; and
• Thoroughbreds at Esk on Saturday, July 12 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Race.

NAIDOC Week branding will feature on the handler’s bibs, strappers bibs, saddle cloths, harness helmet covers, harness colours and winners’ presentation rugs at all three of the races.

The winner of each race will also be presented with an RQ NAIDOC Week Trophy.

In addition, the Wajji Wahlu Aboriginal Dance Troop will perform at each of the NAIDOC Week events, including:

• A traditional Welcome to Country;
• Digeridoo performance and spiritual songman; and
• Smoking ceremony.

“NAIDOC Week continues to play a pivotal role in Australia each and every year; celebrating the First Nations people who have occupied and cared for this continent for 65,000 years,” RQ Acting CEO Lachlan Murray said.

“Racing Queensland’s vision for reconciliation is to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, communities and histories are respected and celebrated.  

“This includes continuing to champion change by creating opportunities to foster genuine relationships and drive meaningful outcomes within our sphere of influence.”

The NAIDOC Celebration Chase on July 5 coincides with the code’s night of nights, headlined by the $1 million Brisbane Cup – one of the richest greyhound races in the world.

The evening will also feature Bindi Lee, who was recently announced as the inaugural winner of Racing Queensland’s NAIDOC Celebration Artwork competition.

Bindi’s artwork, titled ‘Where the Tracks Meet’ is a powerful design, encapsulating the profound connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians within the racing industry. 

The artwork highlights the shared journey and the unity of cultures coming together, symbolised by the tracks – not only as literal pathways but also as a metaphor for the journey that has led to this moment of meeting and reconciliation.

RQ’s NAIDOC Week celebrations is the latest step in its vision for reconciliation.

In 2024, RQ launched its First Nations Hub, featuring a number of important tools that contribute to RQ’s journey towards reconciliation, including its:

• First Nations Strategy;
• Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Employment Strategy;
• Racing For Reconciliation video series; and
• First Nations Careers page.

The page also features a photo gallery, a list of club locations with traditional names and a contact page.

Click here to view the RQ First Nations hub.