Our Rich Regional History...

The Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival is three days of fun, fashion, glamour, food and entertainment built around two days of horse racing in Cairns in early September each year.

What began as a small amateur meeting in 1959, designed to bring city and country together, has expanded over the years to become one of Australia’s premier spring horse racing carnivals. The Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club has become widely and affectionately known as “The Cairns Amateurs.”

66 years on, the Cairns Amateurs is now complemented by a host of formal and informal social activities, including a host of formal and informal social activities and corporate functions, as well as events and areas for the general public on both race days.

In 2024, the Cairns Jockey Club (CJC) solidified an IP License agreement with Racing Queensland, marking the transition of the Cairns Amateurs Carnival into the Club’s operational structure under the guidance of a Steering Committee. This new structure underscores the CJC and Steering Committee’s commitment to preserving the Carnival’s rich heritage while enhancing its sustainability and appeal as a premier tourism drawcard. Taking this collaborative and mutually beneficial approach, we combine expertise and resources to infuse the Carnival with fresh energy and vibrancy. The dates for this year’s carnival are 12th – 14th September 2024.

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 Racecourse; however, the social functions that surround the Carnival vary in style and venue.

The Carnival 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 and Premiers mixing with celebrities and business leaders mixing with fashionistas.

The Carnival 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 draw card for the advancement of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival is three days of fun, fashion, glamour, food and entertainment built around two days of horse racing in Cairns in early September each year.

What began as a small amateur meeting in 1959, designed to bring city and country together, has expanded over the years to become one of Australia’s premier spring horse racing carnivals. The Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club has become widely and affectionately known as “The Cairns Amateurs.”

66 years on, the Cairns Amateurs is now complemented by a host of formal and informal social activities, including a host of formal and informal social activities and corporate functions, as well as events and areas for the general public on both race days.

In 2024, the Cairns Jockey Club (CJC) solidified an IP License agreement with Racing Queensland, marking the transition of the Cairns Amateurs Carnival into the Club’s operational structure under the guidance of a Steering Committee. This new structure underscores the CJC and Steering Committee’s commitment to preserving the Carnival’s rich heritage while enhancing its sustainability and appeal as a premier tourism drawcard. Taking this collaborative and mutually beneficial approach, we combine expertise and resources to infuse the Carnival with fresh energy and vibrancy. The dates for this year’s carnival are 12th – 14th September 2024.

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 Racecourse; however, the social functions that surround the Carnival vary in style and venue.

The Carnival 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 and Premiers mixing with celebrities and business leaders mixing with fashionistas.

The Carnival 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 draw card for the advancement of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.