- Club & Carnival - Current News

2008 News

The President and Committee are excited about the 2008 Carnival as celebrations are planned to mark the 50th Carnival. To get the celebrations off to a glittering start, a theme of “GOLD” has been assigned to events surrounding the Carnival and patrons are invited to join in and show that all that glitters really is gold! There are also some new events and changes to some old favourites for 2008.

The traditional Morning Tea & Fashion Parade held on the Thursday before the Carnival has been combined with the newer Ladies Corporate Lunch to form one large event – the Fashion Parade Brunch. This move is to cater for the increased demand on both functions over the year and will provide all of the elements of both events that have been enjoyed by guests in the past. Many activities have been planned for the event, including a retrospective of fashion over the past 50 years and fashion parades from leading Australian designers.

Picnic in the Park has also undergone a makeover for 2008. Patrons can now book a fully constructed shaded Site to entertain their own guests and enjoy the Carnival al fresco. The elements that have always been enjoyed by patrons of the area have been kept whilst the hard work of setting up your own area has been removed, making Picnic in the Park all about fun, not work.

This year also sees the status of Life Member awarded to Ron Davis AM for his years of service to the Club on the Committee as Senior Vice President. Mr Davis was awarded this status in May and the President expressed immense appreciation for the years of dedication Mr Davis has shown the Club and Carnival and was delighted to be able to commemorate the occasion in the Carnival’s 50th year.

To comply with Queensland Liquor Licensing legislation, the Committee has made the difficult decision to restrict entrance to the two day Carnival to people 18 years and over. This decision allows the Club to operate bar facilities at the Carnival whilst complying with legislation. The Club regrets having to make this step but is faced with no alternative and is following steps made by other Queensland Horse Racing Clubs.

This year also sees the implementation of a non-smoking area to the entire licensed area of Cannon Park during the two days of racing. Those patrons wishing to smoke will be directed to exits located around the course and areas outside the licensed zone will be provided. Access back to the course will be by way of pass-out.

Prize money at the 2008 Carnival will be at record levels and is anticipated to be in the vicinity of $400,000. There will also be Sky Racing coverage no both days of the Carnival which is sure to attract even more attention to the Carnival from around the country. The feature race, the Carlton Draught Amateur Cup, on Saturday will have a prize purse of $100,000 while two other races each feature $40,000 in prize money. There is also the introduction of a 3 Year Old race aimed at encouraging owners and trainers to enter horses which will turn 3 on August 1st this year and allow for an increased level of competition focused on this age group. This 3YO race is to encourage participation by horses involved in the current 2YO circuit, in Queensland, and will be one of the first major races they can enter as a 3YO. Prizemoney will be $20,000 or $30,000 if the winner is a QTIS horse.

2007 News

The 2007 Carnival was a testimony to the great support from Sponsors and the Community for the Cairns Amateurs. On the morning of 25 August 2007, we were informed of the outbreak of Equine Influenza (EI) in Queensland and New South Wales and instructions from the thoroughbred racing industry body, Queensland Racing, were that other race meetings scheduled for that day would be cancelled and all racing in the state was suspended until further notice. As the Cairns Amateurs Carnival was only 2 weeks away from this date, the Committee began a series of meetings and contingency plans in the event there would be no horse racing at all this year.

The decision was made to go ahead with the Carnival after overwhelming support from our Sponsors and the Cairns community and although there was no horse racing on the Friday of the meeting, over 4000 people attending the race track and were greeted to some of the best fashions on display, a party atmosphere and even a race. The lack of real horses gave the Club the opportunity to resurrect the Shamateur Cup and 5 political candidates for the seat of Leichhardt skittled around the saddling enclosure on the Club’s beer barrel horses that were once used to race through the city streets. The crowd cheered, the pollies steered (badly!) and “Shamateurs” was back! The Club was granted a TAB racing meeting for the Saturday of the Carnival and although attendance was lower than in previous years, over 14,000 people walked through the gates to enjoy a day of racing, fashion, socialising and Spring weather.

The President and Committee would like to sincerely thank the Club’s Members, Sponsors and the Community for their support of this great Cairns event and look forward to celebrating the 50th Carnival in 2008.

The dates for the 2008 Carnival are set for Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September, with an Owners & Trainers Welcome Function held on Wednesday 10th September and Members Only functions beginning on Thursday 11th September.