Santa Tereasa races preserve a long-running community tradition

The Santa Tereasa/Ltyentye Apurte horse races have brought Indigenous riders and community members together in central Australia for decades, with this year’s event again combining horse racing, family gatherings and evening celebrations. The races are held on the first weekend of October at the remote community about 70 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs. Spectators line the track boundary, while others reverse their utes towards the course to secure a view of the action.

The meeting differs from formal race events. Helmets are optional, chunky stock saddles are used instead of light saddle pads, and children run barefoot across the dusty track between races. Prize money can help competitors buy extra groceries, but participants describe the gathering as being about more than competition.

Raymond Palmer, chair of the Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation, said the amateur meeting had been running since about the 1960s, when many Indigenous people in the region worked as stock workers on cattle stations. “It’s very important to us, because we had this race for years for our forefathers,” Mr Palmer said. “We will continue to keep it going.” Walkabout Bore horseman Peter Kenny, who has attended since the early 1990s, said the event remained a highlight.

He said he had learned to handle horses from his father and continued to breed, train and bring horses to the races each year. After racing ends, the community holds a dress-up evening in a sports hall. Hundreds of people attend, with children and adults wearing cowboy and cowgirl outfits.

Judge Sidney Mahinya said entries included boots, hats, belts, chaps and whip-cracking performances. She said the community had welcomed her during a two-week placement at the local clinic and that she would like to return.