100 years of Australia’s Hottest Racing

About Us

For the past 110 years, Cannon Park has been the home of the Cairns Jockey Club and has continued its commitment to local racing making it one of the top things to do in Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.

Originally owned by the Cannon family, the land where the CJC now sits was donated, with the first race meeting held in 1911. Records show that the first Cairns Cup took place in the early 1900’s.

Our progressive racing strategy, combined with our dynamic events throughout the year is consistently increasing our on-course patronage and viewing audience providing even more value to our sponsors and spectators and making Cairns a must visit for Horse Racing in Australia.

Cannon Park boasts crowds of over 12,000 per day during the peak carnival times and has many function rooms and hospitality areas.

Membership Renewal

$180pp

Runs from 1st January 2024 – 31st December 2024.

Renew your Membership

2024 New Membership Registration

$220pp

Become a Member

meet our

Committee

Tom Hedley

President

Anthony Dall’Alba

Committee Member

Bruce McDonald

Committee Member

Scott Carpenter

Vice President

David Robertson

Committee Member

Damien Nowak

Committee Member

Kate Fern

Treasurer

John Forsyth

Committee Member

Gary Riches

Committee Member

Rebecca Conlan

Committee Member

Warren Massingham

Committee Member

Our History

Cannon Park Racecourse

The long and colorful history of the Cairns Jockey Club started in the townships Mining Exchange Hotel in July 1884.

Over fifty enthusiastic people signed up for membership and the very first race meeting was conducted shortly after. The day was proclaimed a holiday, and the meeting attracted attendees from as far afield as Herberton and Port Douglas.

The Cannon family generously donated the land where the club is currently located, with the first race meeting held in 1911. Records show that the celebrated Brothers Cairns Cup was first conducted in the early 1900’s, with only the war years interrupting the continuous running of this event. 

In recent times several developments have taken place at Cannon Park. The grandstand was opened 15th July 1972, by the Minister of Racing the Honorable Sir Gordon Chalk KBE. It was shortly after that work was started to an extension which now houses the main public bar, tote office and windows, and the Barrier Reef function room. New improvements include the extension of the gallops track to 1800m, construction of the horse swimming pool, completion of the air-conditioned swab stall, upgraded stewards towers and installation of an improved semaphore board and photo finish systems.

In March 2006 the edge of Cyclone Larry whipped through Cannon Park causing minor track and building structural damage. Several sections of the running rail were twisted beyond recognition, and the work shed roof was ripped off, exposing the starting barriers to water damage.

On-course signage was damaged, as was the front gate ticket office. Nevertheless the saddest loss was for some of the magnificent fig trees in the tropical gardens. With office and bar buildings, and stables and tie-ups stalls escaping major damage, the club was fortunate enough to be able to continue trade.

A team of members, volunteers and workers ensured that the cleanup and running rail repairs were completed swiftly, allowing trainers to continue their horses work programs with minimal disruption.

Cannon Park has been the home to several smart gallopers who have graduated to becoming stakes place getters and metropolitan winners. These include recent Queensland Cup winner Regal Punch, and the north Queensland bred trio Strictly Smart, See You Twist and Dirtiere. The far north breeding ground does not stop with the gallopers. John O’Shea, Brian Mayfield-Smith and Jack Wilson spent their formative years honing their skills and talents at Cairns.