General News
10 December, 2025
VIP upgrade for Mareeba Turf Club
RACE fans will soon be able to enjoy having a punt on the horses in comfort and style, with a new-and-improved VIP lounge coming to the Mareeba Turf Club.
The club’s existing VIP lounge, located above the main grandstand, will undergo some much-needed improvements including the installation of new TVs, a new fridge, new furniture, and more.
Club president Karl Smith said he was very excited to see the area start to be transformed.
“It’s exciting. We’ve got a few ideas just to make it more comfortable, but at the moment it’s pretty much a blank canvas,” he said.
“We’ve got some good people on the committee who are really committed to making it a really nice, comfortable space up there that people want to attend.
“It’s got air conditioning and we’re getting all the sound and speakers working up there. So you’ll be able to watch the local races as well as the interstate races in comfort.
“We’re upgrading the TVs, we’re going to get a new fridge, we’re looking at upgrading the furniture too.
“Not massive changes at the moment – we’re just going to take it bit by bit and just make sure we do it right. Long term, we want it like a sports bar up there – that’s the sort of direction we want to go, so it’s a place everyone wants to go and enjoy the races.”
Mr Smith said the upgrade would not only be beneficial for racegoers, but also for the club itself.
“Eventually, if we can get it up and running properly, we’ll be able to utilise that room for events – like hiring it out to the local community,” he said.
“We already hire the venue out to various organisations within the town for events, but having a fully operational indoor venue upstairs, I’m sure it will attract some clients who want to use that area.”
The upgrade for the club comes after a three-year partnership with Sportsbet was made earlier this year, allowing them access to funding to keep racing in regional Queensland alive.
“Their sponsorship helps little clubs like us be able to do these improvements to make things enjoyable for the racing public,” Mr Smith said.
“They’ve really gone out of their way to help a lot of small clubs throughout the country – it will make our club a lot more presentable.
“To be in a position where we can offer a much-improved VIP experience at our major events wasn’t something we would have considered not long ago but now we are in much better position.
“This is a real opportunity for racing in Far North Queensland to put its best foot forward.”
The club expects the VIP lounge will be available for use early next year.
Boxing Day Races
Once again, the Sportsbet Mareeba Turf Club is preparing to host the Boxing Day Races – a popular tradition within the community.
The event will provide more than just an entertaining five-race draw, with two bars, additional food vendors, live music by Careless, and a water jumping castle for the kids sure to be the perfect day out for families and friends.
The always-spectacular Fashions on the Field competition will also be held, with this year’s theme being ‘Picnic Polo’.
After the success of the minibus operation, the club will again be offering the service. The service is $5 per person per trip (paid directly to the driver), with pickups starting from 11am outside Bendigo Bank and drop-offs back in town later in the evening.
Gates open at 11am on Boxing Day, with the turf club being located at 1 Fenwick St, Mareeba. Tickets and marquee hire are available through Trybooking at www.trybooking.com/DHLXW
