Dungog camel racers depart for Boulia

DUNGOG locals Mathew and Taneal Anderson are setting off to Queensland this week to defend their 2024 Boulia Camel Races title.

Known as the “Melbourne Cup of camel racing”, the Boulia event is the most prestigious and coveted win on Australia’s camel racing circuit.

Last July’s win was an ecstatic victory for jockey Mathew Anderson, camel Gunna and trainer Wayne Morris with a strong leading win in the 1200m Better Beer Cup.

Anderson rides for the Spinifex camel syndicate, which consists of himself and his wife Taneal, and Vicki and Tedd Lawler from Queensland.

The Spinifex name was selected in honour of a plant Mathew and Taneal came across while travelling in the outback.

“It is known for its hardy appearance that can withstand strong winds and storms,” they said.

Held annually on the third weekend of July, the Boulia Camel Races returns on 18-20 July, 2025.

Adorned in his hot pink silks, Mathew will once again be “tearing up the red dust and holding on with his eyes on the finish line”.

As teams head from across Australia to the remote town of Boulia for this year’s event, Mathew and Taneal said the camel riding community is like a big family.

“We are all out there to have fun and hopefully win some fuel money,” they said.

The circuit will see the Spinifex crew head to the tiny outback town of Jundah first, followed by Bedourie, Boulia and Winton.

“There’s lots of dust and plenty of laughs and hopefully no spills,” Taneal and Mathew said.

“You never know what’s going to happen on race day.

“Sometimes the camels want to run, and hopefully the right way, and other days they don’t.”

Mathew is the syndicate’s jockey and trainer.

He said camels Gunna and Nowhere are in great shape and reside on the Andersons’ Brookfield property outside of the racing season.

You can follow the pair’s adventures via a Facebook page called ‘Adventures of the “camel jockey” and his wife’.