More than 800 people from across northern Australia hit a remote outback cattle station over the weekend for the iconic annual Brunette Races.
In its 116th year, the event includes rodeo, campdraft and a novelty obstacle course based on the life of a station ringer.
The event is held at Brunette Downs — a 1 million-hectare remote cattle station located 380 kilometres north of Tennant Creek.
For jillaroos and jackaroos, the Brunette Races are a chance to let their hair down and enjoy the fruits of the heavy rainfall that delayed the start of this year’s muster season.
For others attending the event, it’s an outback bucket list item and a chance to experience a culture many don’t otherwise encounter.
Here’s the action from the 2026 Brunette Races in pictures.
People from stations all over northern Australia get to show off their mustering skills at the Brunette Races. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
While there is betting, there are no big-name bookmakers to be seen at Brunette Downs. (ABC News: Sam Parry )
Jess Angus won the Jack and Jill campdraft event on the first day of the races, showing off some of the skills she’s picked up mustering at Brunchilly Station, north-east of Tennant Creek. (ABC News: Sam Parry )
Young bull rider Mitch Reinke prepares for an evening of rodeo riding under lights. Originally from Gatton, Queensland, Mr Reinke now travels northern Australia as a rural fencing contractor (ABC News: Sam Parry )
Wira Thompson, Kelly Mills and Eligh Houston all left regional towns in the eastern states to work on a team of contract musterers in the Northern Territory. (ABC News: Sam Parry )
Hundreds bring their horses from remote stations to compete in campdraft, which gets underway at the crack of dawn every morning during the four-day meet. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
The races continued well into the night. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
The Brunette Races brought hundreds of people to the Barkly over the weekend. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
Bull riders enter the competitors’ area behind the chutes ahead of Friday night’s rodeo. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
Christon Rory travelled from the remote community of Borroloola to compete in the mini bull ride. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
Veteran rodeo paramedic Greg Bath prepares to respond to injuries during the event. For years, Greg and his wife have followed the rodeo and campdraft circuit, treating patients with everything from sunburn to spinal fractures.
(ABC News: Sam Perry)
At the Brunette Races, station ringers moonlight as jockeys on locally bred horses moonlighting as racehorses. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
Ringers Ava Deane, Joe Taylor, Sam Greer and Charlie Wehl all call Brunette Downs Stations home, just a short drive minutes from the track. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
A bucking bronco competitor prepares his saddle. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
A horse gets the better of his rider in the Brunette Races rodeo arena. (ABC News: Sam Parry)
