The Birdsville Race Club is still hopeful the September race meeting can be held and a final decision about the 2020 event has not been made.
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On April 1 the club delayed ticket sales but a spokesperson said they were optimistic of their chances with COVID-19 infection rates starting to hit zero in some states and international borders closed.
"We don't have blinkers on. We appreciate that there's still a lot of hoops to jump through we remain hopeful that we will be on a winner and able to run the Birdsville Races in 2020," the club said.
" We will absolutely follow Government and local community guidelines, and will do nothing that may endanger those who live in the region".
Birdsville is in the Diamantina Shire which shut down its borders to visitors in March however newly elected mayor Robbie Dare has called for hotels in his shire should be allowed to re-open.
The Birdsville Race Club vice president Gary Brook said that if sufficient notice is given it was safe to go ahead, and large gatherings and travel was permitted, they hoped to hold the event.
"It's nice to hang onto that hope both for us, racing participants and the small towns and tourism operators who rely on outback tourism to stay afloat," Mr Brook said.
"We will give ourselves every opportunity and the last thing we want to do is jump too early. The Birdsville Race Club remains committed to giving hope to the hundreds of businesses and families who are reliant on tourism in Outback Queensland."
Mr Brook said the Queensland Government and Racing Queensland were supportive of their position.
"Unless you hear otherwise from us - the Birdsville Races are still on the calendar," he said.
The Birdsville Races has only ever been cancelled once in their 138 year history - and that was for equine flu in 2007.
The races are scheduled September 4-5.
Further announcements regarding tickets and staging of the 2020 Birdsville Races will be made soon.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
