- The Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club Inc. is a not-for-profit amateur horse racing club that operates the annual Cairns Amateurs Carnival. The Carnival runs over 4 days (Thursday to Sunday) and comprises two days of horse racing and a number of social events around and during the racing.
- The race meeting prize money draws interest Queensland wide and attracts large race fields each year, both new and returning participants. The two-day race meeting has always been held at Cannon Park Race Course, however the social functions that surround the Carnival vary from style and venue. The Club aims to provide events that appeal to the Community as a whole as well as to Members and their Guests.
- Each year the events evolve to suit the requirements and requests of Members and the public accordingly. The social events are the premier functions held in Cairns each year and see locals mixing with Governors, Premiers mixing with celebrities and business leaders mixing with fashionistas.
- Economic Surveys conducted in 2010, recognised the Cairns Amateurs Carnival as the event which injects the most money into the Cairns economy each year. Among the key findings by economist Bill Cummings were:
- Surveying for the 2011 Amateurs reported very heavy spending on clothing, fashions, hair and makeup, totaling about $3.9 million and other spending generated on local transport, taxis and
entertainment associated with Amateurs adding a further estimated $2.1 million. - The extent of corporate activity associated with the Amateurs indicates that the event plays a role in entertaining important guests from outside the region, to sell Cairns as a service centre and a place in which to invest.
- The results for the 2011 report are very comparable with those of the 2010 report reflecting the strong rise in attendees at the races and a strong rise in visitors from outside the region.
- It is estimated that Amateurs was attended by about 1,900 visitors from within the Far North Queensland region and a further 3,300 from outside the region with the majority saying they had
come specifically or mainly for the Amateurs. Visitor nights generated by Amateurs was estimated at about 11,200, generating expenditure on accommodation and travel of about $2.4 million. - About $10 million of the expenditure generated is spent in the region with an estimated $0.6 million flowing into the rest of Far North Queensland region and about $1.7 million to centres outside the Far North, mainly in travel expenses of attendees from outside the Far North, and spending by the racing industry and gaming activity.
- The indications are that total expenditure generated by the 2011 Amateurs Races and the activities associated with it, was of the order of $12.3 million, of which about $6.8 million was from Cairns
residents and businesses with a further $5.5 million drawn in from outside of Cairns, about $1.1 million from the surrounding Far North Queensland region and about $4.4 million from outside the
Far North. - Attendance at this function was dominantly from Cairns. Out of Cairns was up on 2010 from 6% to 17%.
- The Club values our long-term associations with our Sponsors and welcomes new Sponsors to the Amateurs family. The Club aims to further develop relationships within the business community on a national level and encourages inquiries from interested parties. Sponsors are afforded VIP treatment in appreciation of their contributions and support.
- Our Club is determined to keep abreast with the advances in tourism and population growth and to provide the necessary infrastructure at our Carnival that offers first class racing and social events that capture the interest of all Australians as well as remaining a viable drawcard for the advancement of Cairns. The 40th Anniversary of the Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club in 1998 was commemorated with the publication of a limited edition book covering the history of the Carnival.
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Cairns Amateurs has something for everyone – horse racing, fashion, socialising and celebrities. Full Schedule here
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Join or renew as a member of the Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club and be a part of the Regions premier social event. Click Here
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Choose from a selection of Membership packages tailored to suit your favourite Amateurs events. Click Here
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Photos of 2011 Thursday, Friday and Saturday View here
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