Boulia Camel Races

The Boulia Camel Races is an Australian camel race held annually every third weekend of July in Boulia, Queensland since 1997. Sometimes called the Melbourne Cup of camel racing,[1] the event is home to the Boulia Camel Cup, the longest camel race in Australia run over 1500 metres..[2][3]. Races are overseen by the regulatory body Racing Queensland.[4]

Boulia Camel Races
Statusactive
Begins15 July 2022 (2022-07-15)
Ends17 July 2022 (2022-07-17)
FrequencyAnnually
VenueBoulia Racecourse
Location(s)Boulia, QLD
Coordinates22.9097°S 139.9066°E / -22.9097; 139.9066
CountryAustralia
Years active26
Inaugurated1997 (1997)
Organised byBoulia Camel Races Incorporated
SponsorsTourism & Events Queensland, Outback Queensland, Boulia Shire Council, Channel 7, HIT 102.5
Websitewww.bouliacamelraces.com.au

Additional entertainment throughout the event include a camel tagging competitions, yabby races, fireworks, children's amusements, live entertainment and novelty races including the 'Great Australian Ride-on Lawnmower Race'.[5] Boulia which a population of 300 people increases to 3,000 people during the races.[1]

Qualifying

The three day event culminates in the major Boulia Camel Cup race. To qualify, camels must have competed in both the 400m and 1000m heats held across the previous days' racing.[6]

  • The minimum age of racing camels in 3 years and bulls are allowed to race as long as they are not in season.
  • The racetrack is a U shape, with camels racing clockwise.
  • The maximum number of camels per race is 18

2023 Event

The 2023 event will take place from 14 - 16 July 2023, with two days of professional camel racing on the Saturday and Sunday. Free camping available with event tickets and luxury bell camping will be onsite.

2022 Event

The 2022 event will take place over three days from 15 - 17 July 2022. This is the 25th Anniversary event of Boulia Camel Races. Winner of both the 1500m Camel Cup and also the Quarter Mile Flyer was local team Woodhouse Camels, with camel Gunna ridden by jockey Kyrraley Woodhouse and rained by Tom Woodhouse. 2022 marked the 2th Anniversary of the Boulia Camel Races.

2021 Event

Along with new sponsoring partner Thirsty Camel Bottleshops,[7] the Boulia Camel Races offered a record $45,000 AUD prize pool for competitors in the 2021 Thirsty Camel Cup race.[8][9] The cup final was won by jockey Kelly Cloan and camel trainer Roman Czubak.[10]

The Boulia Camel Races had originally been set to celebrate the event's 25th anniversary in 2021, however due to the cancelled event in 2020 the anniversary celebration was pushed back to 2022.[11] The 2021 event was one of the first to return following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.[12]

2020 Event

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions throughout the state of Queensland in 2019, the Boulia Camel Races were cancelled in 2020.

2019 Event

In 2019 the Boulia Camel Cup was won by local camel trainers Dannileah Stewart and Ronnie Callope.[11] This was the first win by a local since 2014, and the weekend drew eight thousand fans.[13][14]

2018 Event

In 2018 the Boulia Camel Cup was won by New South Wales jockey Chontelle Jannesse on camel 'Uncle Bob', trained by Road Sansom.[15]

2017 Event

In 2017 the winner of the 1500m final was Shepparton camel jockey Glenda Sutton[16]

References
  1. Heelan, Paula (20 July 2021). "Boulia's Gunna wins Melbourne Cup of camel racing". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  2. "Boulia braces for the 'Melbourne Cup of Camel Races'". 4 June 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  3. Mount Isa Tourism. "Boulia Camel Races". Mount Isa Tourism. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  4. Racing Queensland. "Boulia Camel Races 2021". www.racingqueensland.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  5. Tourism and Events Queensland. "Boulia Camel Races". www.queensland.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  6. Boulia Camel Races. "Camel Racing". Boulia Camel Races. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  7. Barry, Derek (18 May 2021). "Boulia Camel Races return for 2021 with new sponsor". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  8. Walker, Helen (24 May 2021). "Thirsty Camel backs Boulia races". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  9. Boulia Camel Races (18 May 2021). "THIRSTY CAMEL BACKS AUSTRALIA'S RICHEST CAMEL RACES". Boulia Camel Races. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  10. Barry, Derek (19 July 2021). "Local 'Gunna' win in Boulia Camel Races". The North West Star. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  11. Boulia Camel Races (5 April 2020). "HUMP IN THE ROAD SPURS BOULIA CAMEL RACING TOWARDS 2021". Boulia Camel Races. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  12. Bolton, Meg (9 February 2021). "Slow start for 'camel man' as racing industry recovers from COVID". ABC News. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  13. Barry, Derek (21 July 2019). "All the fun of Boulia Camel Races". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  14. Barry, Derek (22 July 2019). "Wason wins the cup at the Boulia Camel Races". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  15. Fitzgerald, Roxanne (17 July 2019). "Dusty, outback town braces for 'The Melbourne Cup of Camel Races'". Katherine Times. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  16. Allison, Charmayne (16 July 2021). "Camel racing a 20-year passion for this Victorian jockey". ABC News. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
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