Louth Races

Fast facts

• Exciting Outback horse races, run on a dirt track
• 830 km north west of Sydney, 132 km north west of Cobar
  

Why go there

A huge tradition in country Australia is the annual "picnic" race meeting. People flood to small country towns in their thousands, dressed in their best hats and cowboy boots. Some come by ute with their dogs hanging over the edge of the trailer, or roar towards the racetrack in a procession of motorbikes. Some even drop in by light aircraft.

One of the best country horse races takes place in early August at Louth, a tiny settlement on the Darling River. The usual population of the town stands at around 30, but on race days it booms to 4,000 or more.
There are seven races on the card, and the horses thunder around a track that looks like manicured desert, throwing great clouds of dust into the air.

Fashion parades are a feature, with hats being a big part of the event. While you can get away with a cowboy-type hat if you are a man, a bowler hat or a headpiece made of beer cans and driftwood is appreciated. For women, the emphasis is on glamour and feathers.

Don’t miss

• Camping or fishing along the scenic banks of the nearby Darling River
• Mary Mathew’s monument in the local cemetery, which reflects a shadow across the town each evening
• Stay the night at Trilby Station and watch the sheepdogs working