Thursday 7 September 2023. In two days from now, the Far North’s most iconic spring racing carnival will be off and racing, with the 65th Sapphire Jubilee edition of the Great Northern Cairns Amateurs Carnival back, delivering three days of fun, fashion, and thrilling on-track action.

With almost 10,000 people expected to attend events comprising this weekend’s Cairns Amateurs Carnival the region’s pinnacle social and sporting event will inject approximately $4 million into the local economy; of which approximately half will have been spent on racegoers’ fashion and grooming at Cairns shopping centres, boutiques, and salons. Notably, Cairns Amateurs is set to boost the wider Queensland economy by a further $2 million.

The lively festival program gets underway today from 11 am on Thursday 7 September with 500 guests converging on the city’s waterfront for the sold-out, Gordon’s Pink Jubilee Fashion High Tea and fashion parade showcasing local milliners and new Spring/Summer looks from Myer Cairns. One lucky guest will also win a $3500 sapphire and diamond pendant from local bespoke jeweller, The Diamond Hunter.

The opening day of celebrations continues at sunset with Cairns Amateurs members and VIP guests attending the President’s Cocktail Party at The Benson Hotel in a warm-up to all the live action at Cannon Park for Ladies Day on Friday 8 September – offering eight of 16 races and four of nine Fashions on the Field before returning to the city’s waterfront with the much anticipated Sapphire Ball featuring live entertainment, spectacular fireworks, and a gathering of 500 partygoers dressed to the ‘nines’ in their “blue sapphire best”.

Following a memorable evening under the stars the Cannon Park competition resumes on Saturday 9 September, leading up to the $150,000 Cairns Amateurs Cup (the total prize money across two days and 16 races is more than $600,000) and sashing of the most sartorial Fashions on the Field competitor across both days, the 2023 Carnival Champion by Ambassador Emma Scodellaro.

Cairns Amateurs Carnival President David Goodman said he welcomed visitors from across the region, Australia, and New Zealand to enjoy Cairns Amateurs’ special Sapphire Jubilee anniversary year.

According to Mr Goodman, the success of Cairns Amateurs is down to hard work and passion by a relatively small team and a committee of volunteers.

“It is timely to especially recognise the people who work tirelessly to ensure Cairns Amateurs is the absolute best Carnival it can be.

“We thank our corporate partners and the broader community for their continued patronage and investment underpinning the success of Cairns Amateurs for 65 years and beyond,” Mr Goodman said.

Member for Cairns and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the 65th Cairns Amateurs had a prominent place on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. “The Cairns Amateurs is a well-established and well-known bucket list event which attracts many locals as well as visitors from around Australia to the Tropical North,” Mr Healy said.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy one of the nation’s great racing carnivals and explore Tropical North Queensland’s world-famous tourism experiences. “Predicted to deliver more than $3.5 million for our visitor economy, the Cairns Amateurs is a terrific event for the Tropical North’s accommodation, hospitality, and tourism sectors.

“That’s why we’re backing the Cairns Amateurs with the State’s premier It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.”

Escorted by twice-winning Melbourne Cup jockey Jim Cassidy and adding to the shine of this year’s Sapphire Jubilee edition of Cairns Amateurs is a special visit by the $600,000, 18-carat gold Melbourne Cup trophy as part of its 21st Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour of 41 destinations spanning seven countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, and Japan.

This year’s special guests include Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, 2023 Carnival Ambassador, Emma Scodellaro, Cairns Amateurs’ patron, Bart Sinclair OAM, Melbourne Cup jockey, Jim Cassidy and Fashions on the Field judge and Victoria Racing Club Ambassador, Crystal Kimber.

To find out about entry times, ticket prices and general admission, check out our Events page.

The Cairns Amateurs Carnival acknowledges the valued and continued support of Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism and Tropical North Queensland and Cairns Regional Council in staging its 65th anniversary season of horse racing and social events.