Thrill of the chase returns to Outback as Birdsville races make comeback

They’re racing again beneath a big outback sky in Birdsville, after two years of missing out, and people from all over are making up for lost time.

Birdsville pub owners Courtney and Talia Ellis with two of their children, Sierra 4, and Jonty, 2, are delighted to see the return of the races. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/MaxAgency

They’re racing again beneath a big outback sky in Birdsville, and people from all over are making up for lost time.

A crowd of 3000 descended on the far-flung hamlet on the edge of the Simpson Desert for the return of the celebrated carnival, scratched in 2020 and again last year by Covid-19.

A party that started on Friday night kicked on through Sunday as the horse racing got underway on the sandy track outside town. The overflow from the historic Birdsville pub spilt onto Burt St where food stalls and a pumping live stage kept the festivities going.

With the daytime temperature topping 37C – raising barely a sweat by local standards – few needed to be reminded to stay hydrated. A black tie ball at the town hall on Saturday night attracted 280 paying guests and raised cash for charity.

The races are usually held in the relative cool of early spring, but this year they’re being duplicated to catch up on the last two, pandemic-induced cancellations.

The special April meeting will be rerun in September for the 140th Birdsville Cup and, hopefully, the resumption of normal service post-pandemic.

“It’s like setting the town for the year and give us all a fresh start,” said pub owner Courtney Ellis. “We’re back to where we were – Covid is behind us and there is a real buzz about, a sense of optimism in the town.”

Talk about unfortunate timing. Mr Ellis, 43, and 37-year-old wife Talia outlaid nearly $6m for the 1884-vintage hotel in 2019 only to have the virus up-end their plans, like those of so many Australians.

He stresses that they’re not complaining. “It has been tough,” he said. “But we have had tremendous support from Queensland and from the local community. People have just been great and have helped us get through this. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

What a relief, though, to have the township of 140 jumping again in this remote corner of the country, 1590km west of Brisbane and 1000km north of Adelaide.

The caravan park and makeshift campground on the banks of the Diamantina River are busy, and everyone is looking forward to the 13-race program continuing into Monday. More than 800 people thronged Burt St.

“I love the horses, I love the racing. It’s part of the town’s DNA,” Mr Ellis said.

The crowd was as colourful as the red-hued desert scenery: Grey Nomads getting an early start to the tourist season, ringers who drove eight hours for a weekend away from work, teachers and nurses letting their hair down.

Mr Ellis said: “It’s bush racing at its bloody best, almost like a little time warp. There’s no barriers to walking around and getting up close to the horses, meeting the trainers and enjoying everything else going on.”