Cloncurry is set to have a colourful time at Schumacher Park on Saturday with its first race meeting of the year. As of Friday morning there were 35 accepted racehorses in total across the five scheduled races.

The most competitive race looked to be the AR Contracting Benchmark 50 Handicap, with 10 acceptances ready to race.

Cloncurry and District Race Club’s sponsorship coordinator Hilary Simmons said the event was a great way for new people to town to connect with the community. 

Race meetings to be held later in the year were more formal but the luau races’ casual theme was always popular, Ms Simmons said. 

She said that gates to Schumacher Park opened at 11.30am and that the first race, the 1000 metre Brodie & Co Ratings Band 0-45 Handicap, started at 1.30pm.

The Black Toyota Fashions on the Field had seven categories for those dressed to the Hawaiian theme. 

There would be the best dressed Hawaiian gentleman prize, and the best dressed Hawaiian lady.

There would also be four junior categories which included the best dressed young Hawaiian lady aged between 12 to 17, the best dressed young Hawaiian gentleman aged between 12 to 17.

The younger two categories were the best dressed Hawaiian junior girl aged 11 and under, and the best dressed Hawaiian junior boy aged 11 and under.

“And then there’s the novelty prize for any extraordinary outfits," Ms Simmons said. 

At the Cloncurry Luau Races last year there was one entrant in the novelty section, which had been won by Tim McClymont. He wore a bra over a blue coloured shirt. 

He had been told by his cousin that the races’ dress code was cross dress, but when he learned it was an April Fools prank Mr McClymont put the grass skirt and wig away. 

Chelsea Salisbury had won last year’s women’s category, with a red flower designed millinery she designed herself, while Dr Bryan Connor won the men’s fashions.