Birdsville Races draw 6000 for 'best ever' event Crowds cheer on the field at the Birdsville Races on Cup day. Pic: Adam Head Source: News Limited The Crackup Sisters entertain at the Birdsville Races. THE sport of kings reached the dustiest corner of the empire yesterday at the iconic Birdsville Races. An estimated 6000 people have made the epic trek to the tiny Outback Queensland town for the weekend carnival, which has become one of the biggest bucket list items in Australia. Gallery: And they're racing at Birdsville They came from near (if you count 400km-away Windorah as near) and they came from far, with many lugging their caravans and trailers across the mighty Simpson Desert or 1600km from Brisbane. The lucky few flew in via a network of regional stopovers. In the day's feature race, Primed handed a breakthrough win to Barcaldine trainer/jockey duo Todd Austin and Shane Egan. Despite the searing heat, which hit the mid-30s even in early spring, some guys and girls decked out in their finest threads for the fashions on the field contest. The quirky novelty category was full of its usual colour with characters ranging from Big Bird to imaginary ones. Sarah Mattsson took out the title with her Birdsville Bird ensemble. "It's a very rare species," she said. Only sighted once a year in September. Fashions co-ordinator Karen Brook said the standard of the best-dressed entries was the best ever. "We've really seen a lot more guys and especially girls, making the effort to dress up," she said. And it is an effort because you have to wear your heels in the dirt. Karen's brother Gary, the Birdsville race club vice-president, said this year's event was on track to be the best ever. Birdsville is the second leg of the Simpson Desert Cup. The last event is on Saturday at Bedourie, a town just as small, and just as dusty as its more famous sister.