Five reasons you can’t miss the Roma Picnic Races

Stunning autumn weather, live music, cold drinks, fabulous fashion and a six race program – these are the five ingredients that have made the Roma Picnics an absolute favorite on the western Queensland social calendar.

Preparations are now in full swing for the 2025 Great Northern Roma Picnics which kick off with the Black Toyota Black Tie Ball on Friday March 28, followed by a full day of racing, fashion and entertainment on Saturday March 29.

This year will mark 124 years of racing for the Roma Picnics, and Club presidents, Rohan and Sarah Parkinson, said the committee have been workshopping new initiatives to ensure the weekend delivers on the promise of being one of the best race meetings of the year.

“It’s a beautiful time of the year in terms of the weather and people just love the relaxed vibe you get at the Roma Picnics,” Mr Parkinson said.

“Our bar will be open until midnight on both Friday and Saturday and we’ve got some of the best bar managers on hand to make sure that works as seamlessly as possible.

“With live music going until late, and buses running back into motels around town, it’s a pretty great way to spend a night with friends and family.”

Tickets are still available to the Black Toyota Black Tie Ball which has adopted an enchanted garden theme for this year.

Sarah Parkinson said guests would be sure to embrace the theme with some cool surprises planned.

“We’re looking to create some enchantment and wonder with our theme and it should come together beautifully,” she said.

“If they fancy it, guests can start the weekend with a glass of Mumm champagne in their hand. We will be going the extra mile to make sure it’s a special night for everyone.

“We’ve also got some really fresh ideas around the food this year.

“That will definitely include delicious canapes, finger food and the ever-popular ham station.

“We’ve selected some lovely champagne and wines for the weekend, and the bar will be operating until midnight both nights.”

Leading Brisbane band, Vegas Please, will headline the weekend while the boys from Western Queensland Spirit will be serving cocktails during the ball and on race day.

Mr Parkinson said owners would be racing for a prize pool of $75,000 across the six race program.

“We’re really hoping for strong nominations to make a special day of racing for the country racing community,” he said.

 

It’s the extras that make it special

 

The Calcutta is fast becoming one of the highlights of the weekend. It will get underway at noon on race day with tickets sold at the ball the night before and from 11am on the Saturday.

“We’ve had a prize pool of $10,000 or more every year for the Calcutta and it’s become really popular,” Rohan Parkinson said.

“People love getting a group together and trying their luck. We’ve had some very happy winners in recent years.”

Equally, there have been some ecstatic winners in the Fashions on the Field which is this year generously sponsored by Slattery Auctions.

Former Dirranbandi local and current Today Show reporter Andrea Crothers is returning to her old stomping ground to act as Master of Ceremonies for the Fashions and will have her hands full handing out over $14,500 in prizes.

Directly following Fashions, the great Roma Picnics tradition that is the Afternoon Tea will swing into action, this year sponsored by Resolute Property Group.

Mr Parkinson said the McAuley Contracting Schooner Races, which sees patrons don a Carlton Schooner Suit and dash down the straight to claim a $1000 cash prize was also running again this year.

“Everyone loves the Schooner Suit Races – you never know who is going to get over the line with a beer in hand,” he said.

“I’d like to thank all our sponsors for their incredible support. We are a not-for-profit organisation that aims to put funds back into the Roma community and Basset Park and without the support of our wonderful sponsors we wouldn’t be able to do that.

“Thanks in particular to our race sponsors, Morgans Financial, Mazars, Hall Chadwick, Statham Cheesman and the Club Hotel along with The Southport School, CBRE, Westwind, Somerville House, Stocklick and Thynne McCartney and many more.”

Tickets to the ball and race day are available HERE.

For more information or interviews please contact the Roma Picnic Race Club president Rohan Parkinson on 0428 955 118.