Brunette Races, Brunette Downs NT

Well, here we are finally. From Barkly Homestead it's 130km on a development road (rough bitumen wide enough for 1 car, rougher dirt either side), then turn right and 10km down a wide gravel road.

First impression is that it's not much to look at. It just a bunch of vans and trucks and utes parked off to one side, then the racecourse itself, which is a few tin sheds and a track about 2km long.

The first race had 3 horses, the second had 5. Judy picked the winner by sheer good luck (it was skill! JB comment )and picked up $57. The races themselves are really amateur staff, although some of them actually have Registered Horses.

They also had a Calcutta thing which i know nothing of but its something like a sweep, and they had a few races where they 'sell' the horses. This was odd. Each horse gets auctioned to the highest bidder, Some went for nearly $2000! Then they have the race and whoever 'owns' the horse takes the pot. Now there were about three horses obviously better than the others, all owned by the Lake Hart mob, who proceeded to buy them all. Obviously they won and took the pool, poor sods who bought the also rans just lucked out - then they did it again a few races later.

Anyhow, some of the ladies present were dressed up which added some colour to the show, and they had a pretty good range of food and drinks, so it was a pleasant enough day out.

We stopped on the way out and i took these 4 snaps of the landscape. Spotto anything! Brunette Downs Road NT

When another car comes the other way, you get off the road, White knuckle ride. Brunette Downs Road NT

Artwork, I guess.  Brunette Races NT 

Judy Getting set on the 2nd race.  Brunette Races NT 

Fashion on the field.  Brunette Races NT 

The Winner! Brunette Races NT 

Beer shed was a winner.  Brunette Races NT 

Ezy Jack winning a race.  Brunette Races NT