Image credit: Racing Photos
Two of Australia’s biggest racing names - Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys Glen Boss and Robbie Dolan - will headline the Ladbrokes Sportsman’s Luncheon and Calcutta.
The event, set to take place on Thursday, August 21, at Ladbrokes Cannon Park, is a feature event of the Great Northern Brewing Co Cairns Super Carnival.
Hosted by Nick Quinn from Ladbrokes, the luncheon promises an afternoon filled with stories, insights, and entertainment featuring three-time Melbourne Cup-winning legend Boss alongside the 2024 Cup champion and unexpected The Voice reality star, Dolan, in a uniquely Far North Queensland celebration.
Cairns Jockey Club President Tom Hedley said the excitement of the Calcutta and attendance by two of Australia’s racing royalty, the Sportsman’s Luncheon, is shaping up to be an unmissable highlight of the inaugural and highly anticipated Great Northern Brewing Co Cairns Super Carnival.
“It’s a rare opportunity to experience the perfect mix of sport, entertainment and Far North Queensland hospitality, all in one unforgettable afternoon,” Mr Hedley said.
A brand-new addition to the region’s social calendar, the Great Northern Brewing Co Cairns Super Carnival merges two of Far North Queensland’s most cherished racing events — the Cairns Cup and Cairns Amateurs Carnival — into one remarkable nine-day celebration of racing, fashion, and entertainment.
Held over two weekends from August 15-23, the Great Northern Brewing Co Cairns Super Carnival will begin an exciting new era for horse racing in far north Queensland, destined to attract visitors from both near and far for an unforgettable blend of sport and style, delivering a much welcome boost into the region’s coffers.
One-half of the guest duo attending the Cairns Super Carnival’s Sportsman’s Luncheon and Calcutta is Cairns’ favourite and national legend, Glen Boss, celebrated for his historic three-peat with Makybe Diva at the Melbourne Cup from 2003 to 2005.
The Caboolture-born jockey retired in 2022 after an extraordinary career, boasting nearly 2,000 wins, including 90 Group 1 victories and notable achievements like four Cox Plates, two Golden Slippers, and seven Doncaster Mile wins.
Now a Ladbrokes ambassador, he continues to champion the sport through Bossy’s Bucket List, highlighting iconic regional race meetings across Australia and New Zealand.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the Great Northern Brewing Cairns Super Carnival," Boss said.
“It’s always exciting to meet fans and celebrate the sport I love, and I can’t wait to get to Cairns.
“Regional Australians and grassroots racing are the backbone of our great sport, and for me, events like this are the heart of our country’s patriotic culture.”
Joining Boss on the stage will be Robbie Dolan, the Irish-born jockey who impressed the racing world with a brilliant ride on $91 outsider Knight’s Choice, clinching victory in the 2024 Melbourne Cup and its $8.5 million Group 1 prize at Flemington.
While racing has always been Dolan’s first love, he could be likened to a double threat when he captured the country’s attention in 2022 with a heartfelt rendition of Let It Go on The Voice, earning a three-chair turn during the blind auditions.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Ladbrokes Sportsman’s Luncheon,” said Dolan.
“Away from the track, I enjoy connecting with people through music—and guests at the luncheon might even be in for a surprise performance or two.”
Details:
- Date: Thursday, 21 August 2025
- Location: President’s Lounge, Ladbrokes Cannon Park
- Tickets: $190 per person — now available here
- Inclusions: Two-course lunch, four-hour beverage package, live entertainment, and the Calcutta
- Calcutta Kick-Off: 5.00 pm, following the luncheon