Tuesday 19 September 2023. The Far North’s pinnacle social and sporting occasion has called last drinks for another year after its 65th sapphire jubilee anniversary culminated in a successful and well-attended three-day program.

Up to 10,000 racegoers and revellers came through the gates of Cannon Park over the weekend to participate in the spectacle and witness some 182 horses vie for a share in the more than $600,000 prize purse across 16 races on both days with Townsville trainer Lindsay Hatch’s grey gelding, Sayl taking line honours (ridden by veteran jockey Shannon Apthorpe to beat Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham’s Don Arcangelo and Cairns Cup winner, The Driller) in the Great Northern Brewing Co’s Cairns Amateur Cup which delivered a cash reward of $150,000.

Across at the hotly contested Fashions on the Field, 158 competitors indulged in the sartorial splendour of spring, immaculately turned out from head to toe and impressing the judges that included Carnival Ambassador Emma Scodellaro, Crystal Kimber, Neil Carpenter, and milliner Kathryn Lee.

Across the three days of competition (including Thursday’s Jubilee Fashion High Tea), prizes valued at $35,000 were awarded in 12 categories that included a new section for the region’s local ladies won by Sophie Kirkham from Cairns as well as an overall Carnival Champion clinched by Tatiana Collier from Ballarat, Victoria.

While the Carnival’s award-winning caterer, Ochre Restaurant and Catering wrapped up a big week serving meals to 3686 guests, including delicious food and five-star service at both waterfront marquee events, the Jubilee Fashion High Tea and Sapphire Ball, while the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation added a further $19,967 to finish their three-year fundraising partnership total of $78,595; the total of which will stay local and go towards improving the region’s health care.

This year’s special guests included Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, the Honourable Grace Grace MP, Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing, Assistant Tourism Minister for Tourism Industry Development, Michael Healy MP and 2023 Carnival Ambassador, Emma Scodellaro, Cairns Amateurs’ patron, Bart Sinclair OAM, twice winning Melbourne Cup jockey, Jim Cassidy and Fashions on the Field judge and Victoria Racing Club Ambassador, Crystal Kimber.

Also attending for the first time was Sue Blakeney from Gympie, whose late husband Bill, a jockey, was a member (the youngest at the time) of the inaugural 1959 Cairns Amateurs committee.

Completing his third carnival at the helm, Cairns Amateurs Carnival President David Goodman praised the event management team led by Victoria and Mark Jennings and the committee whose time and hard work culminated in excellent attendance through the gate and at marquee events across the three-day Carnival.

“We spent quite a bit of time and effort rethinking and revising our events and Cannon Park layout for this year’s Carnival to make the most of Cairns Jockey Club’s new infrastructure while also working hard to attract our next generation of racegoers with a resident DJ and live band for the all-new Vodka Cruise Carnival Pavilion and Picnic on the Lawn in particular.

“While it is wonderful to celebrate 65 years, it is also important to remain relevant, and I am happy to report the intergenerational appeal of Cairns Amateurs is at an all-time high. We have enjoyed some wonderful feedback in the past few days, particularly the event’s much-lauded high tea and ball, which lifted the bar once again,” Mr Goodman said.

From high tea, cocktail parties, and fashion parades on the waterfront to the crowds at Cannon Park cheering for their favourite horses or simply catching up with friends, Mr Goodman said it is not one but a whole series of elements that give Amateurs the truly special star quality it deserves.

The 66th Cairns Amateurs Carnival will occur from 12 to 14 September 2024.

Click Here to view images encompassing highlights over the 65th Carnival – credit to Cairns Amateurs, MOD Films & Photos.