St Patrick's Race Day, Broken Hill

St Pat's is Broken Hill's big day out. Old Outback Now event listings for the St Patrick's race meeting were well linked, and this guide replaces them. For the city itself, see our Broken Hill town guide.

A short history

According to the club, the idea came up in 1965 during a game of golf between John Toms, a well-known local trainer, and Father Pat Murray, the Catholic administrator. Toms suggested that an annual race meeting, run by volunteers from the Catholic school community, could boost local racing and help the struggling Catholic schools. A committee was formed, and the first meeting was held on Saturday 19 March 1966. The club describes St Pat's as having become the most widely publicised and richest one-day country race meeting in Australia. In 2015, the 50th meeting was marked with the book 50 Years of St Pat's by John Miller.

What happens on the day

The meeting is run on Broken Hill's dirt racetrack, with a card of races featuring the Outback Cup. Fashions on the field, food, drink and live entertainment make it a social occasion as much as a race meeting, and it draws visitors from Adelaide, Sydney and across the outback. Broken Hill's Silver City Racing Club holds its own meeting at another time of year.

Planning your trip

• Book early: accommodation in Broken Hill fills quickly for race weekend.
• Tickets and packages: buy through the official website. We do not list prices.
• Weather: March and April are usually warm to hot during the day; bring a hat and sunscreen.
• Transport: taxis and shuttles are busy; plan your trip to and from the track.

Getting there

Broken Hill has flights from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne (check current services), NSW TrainLink's Outback Xplorer from Sydney, and the Indian Pacific. By road, it is about 510 km from Adelaide and 1,150 km from Sydney.

Make a weekend of it

Combine the races with Silverton, the Living Desert Sculptures and the city's galleries. See our festivals, rodeos and race days guide for more outback race meetings.

Racing in the Silver City

Broken Hill has a long horse racing tradition, dating back to the mining boom of the late nineteenth century, when the city was one of the richest in Australia. The racecourse sits on the edge of town, and the dirt track — typical of outback racing — gives meetings a distinctive character. Local trainers and jockeys race alongside visitors from South Australia and western NSW. St Pat's has become the best-attended meeting of the year, and the funds it raises have supported Catholic education in the city, according to the organisers.

What to wear and bring

Race day is a dress-up occasion for many punters, with fashions on the field competitions and plenty of green in honour of St Patrick. Comfortable shoes are wise, as you may be walking on dirt and grass. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, and a jacket for the evening, when temperatures can drop. Check the official website for any rules on bags, eskies and alcohol.

Responsible fun

Alcohol is a big part of race day culture. Pace yourself, drink water, and arrange a safe way home before the races. NSW Police operate on race day, and random breath testing is common across NSW. Gambling should be kept within your limits; free, confidential support is available through the NSW Government's GambleAware service.

Exploring Broken Hill

Broken Hill was the first Australian city to be included on the National Heritage List, in 2015, recognising its role in mining, labour history and the arts. Make time for:

• The Line of Lode Miners Memorial — on top of the mullock heap in the centre of town, with views over the city.
• The Living Desert Sculptures — sandstone sculptures on a hilltop north-west of the city, best at sunset.
• Galleries — Broken Hill has many artists' studios and galleries, and the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery is one of the oldest regional galleries in NSW.
• The Royal Flying Doctor Service base — at the airport, with a visitor centre. See The Royal Flying Doctor Service.
• The School of the Air — check whether visitor sessions are available.
• Silverton — the historic village and film location about 25 km north-west. See Silverton.

Further afield

With a few extra days, continue to Menindee and its lakes, the opal town of White Cliffs, Mutawintji National Park for guided rock art tours, or Mungo National Park. Check road conditions on the Live Traffic NSW website, as unsealed roads close after rain.

Time zones

Broken Hill observes Australian Central Time (the same as Adelaide), even though it is in New South Wales. Race times and bookings will be in local time, half an hour behind Sydney. This catches many visitors out.

Practical information

• When: two weeks before Easter (check official dates).
• Where: Broken Hill racecourse, NSW.
• Official site: stpatricks.org.au.