Horses race past the large sheds that have been erected along the Birdsville racecourse to shelter punters from the harsh outback sun.

Crowds embrace the dust at the Birdsville Races in outback Queensland.

Fashions on the Field, Birdsville-style. Many racegoers also don fancy dress costumes, including clown suits, Hawaiian shirts and kilts.

It takes a special kind of jockey to handle the dust on the Birdsville racecourse. The 2011 race was won by the horse, Just A Touch.

A bookie inspects the odds at the Birdsville Races.

Travellers embrace a race day ritual that allows you to throw your empties in the gutter.

The Birdsville Races have been going for 128 years, except for three occasions when the event was cancelled because of flood waters.

Racegoers boot-scoot the night away after a long day at the races.

Revellers get into the spirit outside the one and only Birdsville Hotel after the race.

Punters pitch their tents next to aircraft at the Birdsville Airport. By far the busiest two days of the year. The town of population 120 swells to more than 6000 during the races.

Dust plumes as road train passes travellers outside of Birdsville.

Goanna tracks on sand dunes in the Simpson Desert overlooking an inland lake outside Birdsville.

An aerial view of Birdsville during the racing carnival – ordinarily home to only 120 people.

Travellers walk along a sand dune outside Birdsville in outback Queensland.