Yabby racing

Hundreds of people are expected tonight in the tiny town of Windorah in Queensland's Channel Country for a unique outback event.

The Windorah International Yabby Races will see 40 yabbies race in the main street.Yabbies, are a type of inland freshwater crayfish found in Australia. They are a crustacean

The event is designed to cater for tourists travelling through to this weekend's Birdsville Races.

Yabbies will be auctioned prior to every race with some fetching up to AUD700.00 in previous years. Fifty percent of the money raised from the auction supports many local organisations and helps in purchasing equipment for the local health clinic, contributing to new toilet/shower facilities at the rodeo grounds, and many other worthwhile projects. The other fifty percent of the auction money goes into the prize pool.

The Yabby Races have become a popular stop for many on their way to the Birdsville Races and provides a unique evening of racing and revelry.

Once the last yabby has crawled its way past the finishing line, visitors can enjoy live entertainment and local hospitality at the Western Star Hotel.

Yabby trainer Geoff Seawright says this year's crop has shown plenty of potential during barrier trials.

"I give some of them a barrier trial to see how they went and they go real good so I've got them kept for the cup, the Cooper Cup, you just put them in the starter and let them rip and see how they go," he said.

"If they are a bit doughy you put them back, but these fellows are pretty quick, I've got them eating carrots down there at the moment, that seems to liven them up a bit."