Port Macquarie Camel Cup 1992 feature race winner ...
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Crowds cheer and children wave ribbons as camels thunder down the straight of the Port Macquarie Camel Cup in 1992. Twenty-seven years later, Darryl Clarke who surged to the front of the pack on his camel, Bimbo to win the feature race remembers the forgotten sport. "We raced at the Port Macquarie Race Course in the early days, there was always a large crowd who turned out for it," he said. "It was pretty wild, you were sitting on the back and there's nothing on the front when you're racing. "We raced over about 400 metres I suppose and I'd won four races in one day. "We didn't wear helmets for the camel races and because it looked better with an Akubra (hat) on anyway." Mr Clarke featured on the front page of the Port Macquarie Express in October 7, 1992 after winning the event on the October 3. The then-owner of Port Macquarie Camel Safaris, Ron Keating estimated more than 2000 people attended the meeting at Port Macquarie Deer and Ostrich Farm on the Oxley Highway. Proceeds of the day went towards the Koala Preservation Society while racegoers enjoyed a variety of clowns, market stalls, dancing girls, food festivities, bar facilities and novelty races. Mr Clarke, a self-described Kempsey cowboy is now 73 years old and says most people have forgotten that way of life. "You don't see anyone racing camels these days," he said. "It's mostly about things like cricket and basketball. People don't ride horses and things anymore." Annual races are still held at the Uluru Camel Cup, Boulia's Camel Cup, Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races as well as the Outback Queensland Camel Festival. Closer to home, Port Macquarie Camel Safaris operated by John Hardy and Michael Doust host camel walking rides along Lighthouse Beach. "All that sort of history is important and it's important to recognise what camels have done for the country," said Mr Hardy. "It's a great animal and has really opened up the country. We have used camels everyday around Australia and racing is just another avenue. "They can canter and can get up to about 65kmph if they want to. In the Middle East they even have 7km races with mechanical jockeys. "Once they get striding it is actually a very smooth ride as they are stretching out, you'd be surprised how smooth it is. "A good racing camel will put a horse in it's place." Camels were originally introduced to Australia in the 1840s for transport and exploration. Around 1.2 million feral camels are now living in Australia, according to statistics in 2018 from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.
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Port Macquarie Camel Cup 1992 feature race winner Darryl Clarke remembers the iconic sportCrowds cheer and children wave ribbons as camels thunder down the straight of the Port Macquarie Camel Cup in 1992.
Twenty-seven years later, Darryl Clarke who surged to the front of the pack on his camel, Bimbo to win the feature race remembers the forgotten sport.
"We raced at the Port Macquarie Race Course in the early days, there was always a large crowd who turned out for it," he said.
"It was pretty wild, you were sitting on the back and there's nothing on the front when you're racing.
"We raced over about 400 metres I suppose and I'd won four races in one day.
"We didn't wear helmets for the camel races and because it looked better with an Akubra (hat) on anyway."
Mr Clarke featured on the front page of the Port Macquarie Express in October 7, 1992 after winning the event on the October 3.
CAMEL CUP: Darryl Clarke with a copy of the Port Macquarie Express from 1992, he appeared on the front page.
The then-owner of Port Macquarie Camel Safaris, Ron Keating estimated more than 2000 people attended the meeting at Port Macquarie Deer and Ostrich Farm on the Oxley Highway.
Proceeds of the day went towards the Koala Preservation Society while racegoers enjoyed a variety of clowns, market stalls, dancing girls, food festivities, bar facilities and novelty races.
LIKE A SHOTGUN: Darryl Clarke remembers the old ways and can still crack a whip at age 73.
Mr Clarke, a self-described Kempsey cowboy is now 73 years old and says most people have forgotten that way of life.
"You don't see anyone racing camels these days," he said.
"It's mostly about things like cricket and basketball. People don't ride horses and things anymore."
Annual races are still held at the Uluru Camel Cup, Boulia's Camel Cup, Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races as well as the Outback Queensland Camel Festival.
TROT ON: Port Macquarie Camel Safaris' owners John Hardy and Michael Doust as they take visiting tourists for a stroll along Lighthouse Beach.
Closer to home, Port Macquarie Camel Safaris operated by John Hardy and Michael Doust host camel walking rides along Lighthouse Beach.
"All that sort of history is important and it's important to recognise what camels have done for the country," said Mr Hardy.
"It's a great animal and has really opened up the country. We have used camels everyday around Australia and racing is just another avenue.
"Once they get striding it is actually a very smooth ride as they are stretching out, you'd be surprised how smooth it is.
"A good racing camel will put a horse in it's place."
Camels were originally introduced to Australia in the 1840s for transport and exploration. Around 1.2 million feral camels are now living in Australia, according to statistics in 2018 from the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.