With the mercury dropping and winter fast approaching, the beginning of the Flinders & the Outback region of South Australia’s racing season is about to get underway. Each year as the south of the state settles in for a colder winter, further north the clubs are coming out of hibernation and are excited for a several big months of racing! Four clubs make up the Flinders & the Outback region – Port Augusta, Hawker, Quorn and Roxby Downs.
The action in Port Augusta kicks off on Sunday 23 April with the ‘Let the Races Begin’ race day. Nine race meetings are scheduled for Port Augusta between April and September with their premier event, the City of Port Augusta Cup, held on Sunday 9 July. Throughout the season in Port August there is plenty for everyone including the fabulous Pink Ladies Day held on Sunday 7 May and races on the Sunday of the June long weekend.
With the dramatic backdrop of the Flinders Ranges, Port Augusta Racing Club’s track with a rich dark soil track contrasting against the green grass surroundings adjacent to the track is a must visit location for enjoying a day of racing.
Right in the heart of the Flinders Ranges lies Hawker, surrounded by red dirt, it’s the last town to stop at before reaching Wilpena Pound. Hawker Racing Club holds its annual Cup Day on 27 May this year. Watch the red dirt fly as the horses battle it out to claim the Hawker Cup. It’s set to be a fantastic day in a truly remarkable part of South Australia.
The historic town of Quorn is located just north of Port Augusta and is the northern end of the Pichi Richi Railway, which once played a vital role in rail transport in the region. Now Quorn is a tourist hub and a must-visit town when travelling through the Flinders Ranges. One of the annual events that is not to be missed is the Quorn Jockey Club Cup. Held in 2023 on 19 August it is set to be an amazing day. Each year the town turns out for this memorable day with exciting racing on track and plenty of entertainment off the track.
Roxby Downs sits 560 kilometres north of Adelaide and the town supports the Olympic Dam mine, with a permanent population of around four thousand people. First formed in 1991 and holding its first registered meeting in 1994, each year the Roxby Downs Racing Club holds the Roxby Downs Cup. This year the Cup will be held on Saturday 5 August and usually sees close to two thousand people descend on the town for Cup Day.
The Flinders & the Outback region’s racing season for 2023 is set to be thrilling and fabulous with plenty of action on and off the track. Attending a country race day in these unique and dramatic locations is a must, it’s not like anything else in the state. With plenty of racing scheduled in the north of the state over the next few months, now is the perfect time to plan a trip to check it out!
