The Camel Cup is an annual camel racing

Camel racing

Camel racing is a popular sport in India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Australia, and Mongolia. Professional camel racing, like horse racing, is an event for betting and tourist attraction...

 festival held in Australia. The race usually takes place at Blatherskite Park in the town Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...

. The event is organised by the Alice Springs Lions Club.

History

The first such event was held in 1970 in the dry bed of Todd River

Todd River

The Todd River is an ephemeral river in the southern Northern Territory, central Australia. The origins of the Todd River begin in the MacDonnell Ranges, where it flows past the Telegraph Station, almost through the center of Alice Springs, through Heavitree Gap at the southern end of Alice Springs...

, an ephemeral

Ephemeral

Ephemeral things are transitory, existing only briefly. Typically the term is used to describe objects found in nature, although it can describe a wide range of things....

 river in the southern Northern Territory, and became a part of the Alice Springs Centenary Year Celebrations. The popularity of the event was recognised by the Alice Springs Lions Club, and it started its annual celebration in the Traeger Park

Traeger Park

Traeger Park is a small stadium located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.The stadium hosts Australian rules football and cricket matches and has a capacity of 10,000....

, but due to security reasons of the place it was shifted to Arunga Park Speedway. It was 1979 when the race was transferred to its present location at the Blatherskite Park.