The Birdsville Cup is perhaps one of the most famous horse races if not one of the most notorious in Australia. Hosted on the edge of three deserts, the Simpson, the Strezleckie and the Great Stony Desert, the race's notoriety stems from its location, miles from bloody anywhere, and the fact the race comes in at a long second to the amount of alcohol consumed before, during and after the event.

1161km from Adelaide and an immense 1850km from Brisbane, a seemingly endless brain numbing dusty track leads you into Birdsville leaving you wondering why anyone would want to travel this extreme distance to see a mere horse race. Drivers in bug splattered, dust filled 4WD's greet you with bloodshot eyes with whom you can easily sympathise.

In the late 1800's all that was entering Birdsville were drovers moving their cattle along the Diamantina River. The towns history starts way back when the first store was opened in 1878 to service these hardy fellows and it was only three years later that the first race was held in 1881. By 1887 the town boasted three hotels, two stores, a billiard room, police station, customs house, blacksmith, baker, butcher, saddler, shoemaker, cordial maker, jockey club and a bank. Birdsville was essentially a stop off point for drovers to pay state fees for the transportation of cattle across the border to South Australia where they would then move down the Birdsville track to the railhead at Marree where the cattle would be transported to coastal markets.

Today Birdsville has a grand population of about 100 people but during the race meeting the number swells into the thousands. A makeshift airport becomes a veritable car park for light aircraft. Situated right next to the airport, the pub is the first port of call and for some is the only port of call. For many the weekend is an excuse for some serious beer drinking as each day a crowd of happy drinkers protect a proudly made pile of cans that lies at the foot of the verandah.