Community
1 August, 2024
Racing industry riding high
THE Far North Queensland’s racing industry is worth close to $60 million.

Racing Queensland has released its latest independent economic data delivered by IER – a specialist in the tourism, events and entertainment industries – which demonstrates racing contributed a record $2.4 billion towards the state’s economy in 2022-23, representing a 100 per cent increase since Labor came to office in 2015.
In Far North Queensland, which takes in eight clubs from Mareeba to Innisfail and Mt Garnet, the industry was responsible for generating $58.6m in value added contribution to the local economy in 2022-23, which represents a 110 per cent increase since 2015.
The industry has more than 1900 participants involved in Far North Queensland and supports over 450 full-time jobs in the region (up 100 per cent since 2015-16).
Important infrastructure projects, large and small, have also been supported in the region and are helping set local racing clubs up for future success including a $2.5m state-of-the art events centre overlooking the course and mounting yard at Cannon Park, with seating for up to 300 patrons.
Racing Minister Grace Grace said, with close to 40 race meetings staged in Far North Queensland each year, and close to 2000 participants driving the local industry, racing was “absolutely thriving”.
“This includes our eight clubs in the north, which hosts iconic events as a part of the Northern Queensland Racing Carnival, including the Cairns Amateurs and Cairns Cup each year.
“With more than 450 full-time jobs in the region, those are salaries and wages that directly benefit the Far North Queensland economy.”
Speaker and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the FNQ horse racing calendar continued its tradition of being “the major racing drawcard in both our regional and smaller communities, with social gatherings, fashions in the field and homegrown jockeys and horses dominating the many annual track events enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike to our region”.
“Our very own country-style racing events, such as the annual Gordonvale Cup which celebrates its 108th anniversary later this year, the historic Innisfail Race Club which formed in 1888 and plays host to the uniquely-named Banana Cup Race Day, along with the Mt Garnet Races and Rodeo Weekend over three days every May, are just some of the popular and much-loved local racing events which continue to flourish, adding vibrancy and life to local communities,” he said.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said country racing was important to towns in the Far North.
“As well as the jobs and economic benefits of the racing industry, our turf clubs bring the community together and attract tourists and visitors on race days and carnivals,” she said.
RQ chairman Steve Wilson said the data once again highlighted how wide-ranging and impactful the racing industry’s size and scale was across Queensland.