Birdsville Races organisers were poised to announce television personality Sammie O’Brien as race ambassador for 2021 when the COVID Delta variant and ongoing border closures handicapped the event, forcing the postponement of the iconic races.
Keen to make up lost ground, rather than cancel the 2021 event all together the Birdsville Race Club announced a history-making double header for the Birdsville Races in 2022 – with the 2021 races event now scheduled to run in April 2022 as well as the annual September event in its traditional first weekend in September slot. next year.
New mum to be Sammie O’Brien has happily signed on for a double dose of outback racing, today being announced as the ambassador for both the April and September 2022 Birdsville Races.
“Next year will be the 140th anniversary for the Birdsville Races, and in all that time there has never been a year that two incarnations editions of the event have been held. With ongoing overseas travel restrictions in place, and given the demand we’re experiencing for tickets, we’re confident that the appetite for two events is there. And we’re thrilled that Sammie is keen to join us in Birdsville for both of our 2022 TAB race meets,” said Gary Brook, Vice President, Birdsville Race Club.
As previously announced, our postponed 2021 Birdsville Races next years races will run on Sunday 10th and Monday 11th April. whileOur 2022 edition dates are the September race dates have today been confirmed as Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd September 2022, with the TAB Birdsville Cup returning to its traditional running on the first Saturday in September.
A keen race goer, Sammie was the face of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival in 2019 and is looking forward to having two opportunities to get frocked up for the historic Birdsville Races in 2022.
“I was lucky enough to visit Birdsville with Queensland Weekender once before and loved it! It’s been on my bucket list to return to so I was thrilled to be asked to be the ambassador for the Birdsville Races. It’s the biggest bonus when you’re asked to attend something you’ve always wanted to, but never had the opportunity to. Although it’s a shame it was moved from this year to next, I’m quietly stoked that I’ll now get to enjoy a cold beer trackside at the races and at the iconic Birdsville Pub in April,’ said Sammie O’Brien who is due to give birth to her first child with husband Fraser Byrne in October 2021.
A country girl at heart, Sammie loves escaping to the much-loved 255 acre farm at Tarome that she and Fraser have started breeding cattle on.
“I’ve always loved horses, and getting back riding is one of the things I’m really looking forward to after I have my baby. I absolutely loved the time I took to go cattle droving in Western Queensland in 2019. I grew up living in Brisbane and Moreton Island so I don’t come from the country, but I do love it. Two trips to Birdsville next year is my idea of heaven,” added Sammie.
Note: Picture courtesy NewsPix with Sammie O’Brien looking gorgeous wearing a ‘Diamantina’ collection dress from Red Ridge The Label featuring artwork from Wangkanguru and Yarluyandi women Aulpunda ‘Jean’ Barr-Crombie and Anpanuwa ‘Joyce’ Crombie from Birdsville
