Birdsville Kicks Off with Record Fields on Friday

Media Release - Saturday September 6

The 143rd Birdsville Races roared to life today with a burst of trackside colour and red desert dust, as a record crowd of punters converged on the edge of Queensland’s Simpson Desert for the iconic two-day meet.

Dubbed the Melbourne Cup of the Outback, this year’s $330,000 Birdsville carnival has drawn bumper entries 13 races more than doubling entry numbers from 2024 and setting a new benchmark in the event’s storied history.

Click here for all the results from Friday.

A record 130 horses from 31 trainers will take to the dirt track, with Revolt storming home to win the inaugural $40,000 Akubra Big Red 1000m sprint, the hotly anticipated new race honouring the towering 40-metre sand dune that dominates the desert horizon 35km from Birdsville.

Russian Revolution gelding Revolt won the $40,000 Big Red - image Roxanne Weston

Champion bush rider Kody Nestor and trainer Jay Morris were the winning combination with Revolt, having previously had Birdsville success when they took out the 2015 TAB Birdsville Cup with Iron Meteorite.

Birdsville Race Club Vice President Gary Brook said the new sprint had re-shaped the carnival.

“We know the Akubra Big Red race helped draw the record number of entries this year. It was a hotly contested race and there was a real buzz amongst trainers and jockeys in the lead-up. We’re thrilled that Akubra has come on board to sponsor the race and it was fantastic to see the Saunders family, who have a long association with the races as Bookies and owners, have the inaugural win with Revolt,” Brook said.

Trainers travelled from the NT, NSW, Vic, SA, Qld and for the first time in its 143-year history, Tasmania is represented at Birdsville, with the Keys brothers—John (Tasmania), Robert (King Island) and Ken (Cranbourne, via King Island) - hauling their teams more than 3,200km for a crack at desert racing glory. 

Brook said full fields across the board had supercharged the opening day.

Advertisement

“There’s nothing like a full field of horses thundering down the dirt track to the finish line. We’ve got record numbers on track, the whacky outfits were out in force and the vibe was incredible. It’s going to be another cracking day tomorrow for the TAB Birdsville Cup.”

Tomorrow’s $60,000 TAB Birdsville Cup has drawn a full field of 12 horses, with contenders from as far afield as Tasmania, Forbes, Nyngan, Darwin, Adelaide, Mt Isa, Toowoomba and Mackay. Queensland powerhouses John Manzelman (17 horses) and Bevan Johnson (12) lead the charge, though the Keys brothers hold the record for distance travelled.

One of the hot tips for the TAB Birdsville Cup tomorrow is Hettinger who recently won the Katherine Cup by twelve lengths.

While some come for the horses, others come for the spectacle. Opening day’s Fashions on the Field drew a colourful field of characters, with winners of the Novelty Fashions on the Field ‘The Limo Boyz’ from Brisbane and the Gold Coast literally going the extra mile to make their bucket list experience at their first Birdsville Races - buying a $3K limo from a publican in Brisbane which broke down numerous times on the way to Birdsville.  They finally limped into town two days ago and today took out the novelty fashions on the field with their inflatable animals costumes.

The OBE Organic Pavillion hosted more 275 guests, who dined while enjoying prime views of the action.

Punters nationwide tuned in courtesy of Sky Racing’s telecast, beaming the full race program into homes across the globe.

The Birdsville Races are proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Golden Rose Brings Second Season Shake Up
We are two months into a new racing season and the second season sires table was given a good shake up over the weekend with the $1million Group I Golden Rose and $300,000 Group II Stutt Stakes both producing a quinella for sires in this cohort.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Satono’s Stunning Stats Continue as Rich Hill Sires Shine
Rich Hill Stud’s Group 1 stallion roster was the dominant force at Te Rapa’s premier meeting with their progeny claiming a feature race double.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.