No Horse Racing? Sydney Turns to Camels

With the ban on horse racing in New South Wales and Queensland as a result of the equine influenza outbreak, Sydney is turning to camels.

Harold Park Paceway, home of Sydney harness horse racing, is holding camel races on the night of October 12 in lieu of the regular harness races it used to have.

Camels, first imported into Australia in 1840, are quite a part of the country's history, having been used in the Outback for transporting people and goods in hot, arid areas, and for use on farms.

Camels, and Afghan cameleers, plied the desert route from South Australia into the Northern Territory, and the trans-continental train, the Ghan, honors these desert pioneers.

As train and motor vehicle travel increased, the camels were let go as transport animals. You will generally find them only in use for camel treks and some camel racing.

Photo: Camel trek in Australia's Red Centre © Australian Tourist Commission