Outback racing bug bites hard into veteran caller again

The Birdsville Races concluded, but the outback celebration continued, irrespective of the final outcome. Raetihi emerged victorious in the Birdsville Cup on Saturday, outpacing Hello World. Green Shadows attended the event, accompanied by a group of 47 individuals travelling by two buses led by Robert Rabbs Wharram. Wharram, known as Rabbs, delayed his journey to participate in yabby races at Windorah before auctioning goldfish at the Birdsville Pub.

The attention of Wharram was solely on his chestnut gelding, which finished second last in the race. Similarly, 81-year-old John Ferguson's five-year-old gelding, Aussie Adaptor, also finished second last. Ferguson, a longstanding participant of the Birdsville Races for 63 years, considered it his final pilgrimage to the event. He remained uncertain about whether his body would permit him to continue attending the races, considering factors such as his driving licence and the performance of his horse.

Josh Fleming, who had called the Birdsville Cup for his 23rd time, was another regular fixture at the event. The Birdsville Race Club's vice-president, Gary Crook, praised Fleming's ability to weave engaging stories with his calls, highlighting his deep knowledge of the horses and trainers. Despite the challenging conditions and remote location, the Birdsville Races have never been cancelled, with this being the 144th edition since 1882.

The event has faced cancellations due to equine influenza in 2007 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service is a primary objective of the Birdsville Races.