Racing Queensland to set up new Cairns Amateurs steering committee

The Cairns Amateurs Carnival is facing major upheaval amid the replacement of volunteer board members under a restructure to ensure the future viability and profitability of the carnival.

A new steering committee will guide Cairns Amateurs in 2024. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

The premier event on the Far North horse racing calendar is facing major upheaval amid the replacement of volunteer board members under a restructure to ensure the future viability of the carnival.

During the past 65 years Cairns Amateurs, run by the Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club, has grown to become one of the state’s most iconic regional events.

A three-day series of events, including a black tie ball, a high tea, the president’s cocktail party and fashion competitions amid increasing competition from rival events, such as the Cairns Cup has forced the increasingly sophisticated carnival into a new era.

Louise Struber of Cairns Central, Local Ladies fashion winner Sophie Kirkham and fashion judge Neil Carpenter at the Cairns Central Fashions on the Field competition at Cairns Amateurs Ladies Day last year. Picture: Brendan Radke

Speculation has surrounded the profitably of the event that receives various funding allocations, including a three-year $500,000 Cairns Regional Council sponsorship program announced earlier this year.

Despite a 2023 independent expert review which found the event generated $3,520,707 expenditure into the Cairns economy, it’s understood there is a push to increase direct profitability of the carnival.

Cairns Amateurs president David Goodman said growth of the event since its inception in 1959 had meant a volunteer-run carnival was becoming increasingly unviable.

“It’s becoming an event that has made it extremely hard to be run by volunteers, who are professionals with very busy lives,” he said.

Cairns Amateurs event manager and board member Victoria Jennings and president David Goodman pictured in a promotion for the 2023 event. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Racing Queensland sees the amount of effort that has gone into this and they say it needs to become a different type of organisation.”

He dismissed reports that board members had walked out and the event would not run this September.

On Tuesday, Queensland Racing announced a new steering committee made up of prominent business and tourism leaders to replace FNQ Amateur Turf Club board members.

Well-known racing identity Bart Sinclair said he had agreed to be on the committee in a volunteer capacity, but other members have not been announced.

Cairns Jockey Club will increase involvement in the event under the new structure. Picture: Brendan Radke

Queensland Racing chief executive Jason Scott said Cairns Jockey Club indicated the era of a volunteer-run event had come to a close.

“For more than half a century, the volunteer committee has done a tremendous job running the Cairns Amateurs and by establishing a new steering committee, we think the next 65 years can be bigger and better,” he said.

Mr Goodman said the Cairns Amateurs would go ahead as planned from September 12 but did concede there would be major challenges in the transition toward a professional-led carnival.

“I imagine you would still have (volunteer) admin staff and event management professionals engaged as paid employees/consultants,” he said.

“This year being the transition year, all the work has to fit into a shortened time frame, but (this) has not made it impossible.”

He said the FNQ Amateur Turf Club licence issued by Queensland Racing would be surrendered and reapplied when the new committee was in place.

Cairns Jockey Club president Cameron Riches said under the new structure the club would increase its direct involvement in the event.

“(We will) have a greater operational role in implementing decisions of the steering committee (and) details are still being worked through,” he said.

“Racing Queensland are determined to see the carnival prosper.”

Originally published as Racing Queensland to set up new Cairns Amateurs steering committee