Australia Day cockroach races in Brisbane The annual cockroach race at the Story Bridge Hotel in Brisbane. Picture: Story Bridge Hotel Source: Supplied WHILE your Australia Day rituals might involve pavlova and beers, there was a slightly stranger tradition carried out in Brisbane today. The Story Bridge Hotel in inner-city Brisbane held its annual Australia Day Cockroach Races on Sunday afternoon. Thousands gathered at the Kangaroo Point pub to watch the six-legged critters scuttle towards glory. The races are held in a circular track and the roaches are released from an upturned bucket in the middle of the track. The first roach to scuttle to the track's edge is the winner. You can buy a roach for $5 or bring your own along. "We do supply cockroaches, we buy them and fly them up from Melbourne," reads the event details. But this is often not enough, so patrons are being encouraged to BYO roach. The winner receives a $200 voucher to the pub and the honour of serving as a 'Cockroach Racing Ambassador' for next year's competition. Second place receives $25 in cash, third place $15. Who wouldn't want to receive that honour?