Cockroaches are usually seen as household horrors but on January 26, for just a few hours, the creepy critters become national heroes.
The Australia Day Cockroach race will be held at Brisbane’s Story Bridge Hotel today, for the 37th year.
More than 5000 punters are expected to turn up to watch the critters crawl to glory across the finishing line.
Enthusiasts can bring their own thoroughbred or buy a pre-trained one for $5 on the day.
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Ready, set, roach! Punters cheer as the little critters are released and the race begins in Brisbane, Queensland
‘People love catching their own. The old method is the harder it is to catch the better runner it is. That’s the tip,’ Story Bridge Hotel owner, Richard Deery told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They try and feed them the night before so we say, liquid diet, a good beer diet is good for them.
‘People come with mini eskies, with cockroaches chilled in there waiting to take off. They say they’ve trained them on a piece of string or fishing line.’
Just before midday the sounds of bagpipes fill the air and a procession of pipe players honour those who are about to race.
Stewards dressed in blue shirts have the final say. Any roach caught flying is disqualified
The releasing of the roaches is only done by trained stewards
In the middle of the arena – a five-metre circular track – the roaches are released, their frantic scurry sending them into the hands of the waiting stewards.
The first one caught across the line will be immortalised in the Cocky Hall of Fame.
‘The stewards have the final say. No flying of course, anyone that flies will be disqualified,’ says Richard.
‘They’re hand painted in jokey colours, if they (the trainers) haven’t done it themselves the stewards will help them do it. They hold them without pulling any legs off and paint some colours on.’
The roach ring: Inside the arena dreams are crushed and heroes are made
The crowd starts to gather as the procession of bagpipes honors those who are about to race
The winner receives a $200 voucher to spend at the pub, second place receives $25 and third $15.
The unusually high prize money offered by the pub makes the Story Bridge race the most prestigious on the roach racing calendar.
But the day isn’t all about the ugly bugs.
The crowning of Miss Cocky is the event that stops the races.
Billed as more than a beauty competition the crown goes to the most sophisticated entrant with the best attitude.
‘Last years winner looked like an Australian flag,’ says Jo Cosgrove, the Story Bridge’s general manager.
‘She had made a real effort to kit herself out. I don’t know how much she spent but the winner gets a two hundred dollars and the lovely prize of being Miss Cocky,’ she said.
2017 Miss Cocky winner. Adoring subjects gather round to watch the coronation
‘Red, white and blue and lots of tutus come out for Miss Cocky, lots of tutus,’ she said.
Up to 20 entrants of the highest calibre will compete in this year’s prestigious pageant.
Richard said the presentation was important in choosing the winner.
‘But then it’s about their attitudes towards Australia Day and the event. And how they bring more enjoyment to the world by being miss cocky.’
Miss Cocky is congratulated by one of her loyal subjects during her official crowning ceremony
Long live the queen! May her reign of the roaches be long and prosperous
‘Last years winner looked like an Australian flag’: The winner of Miss Cocky is usually the one who goes all out
The wannabe roach queens will be asked tough questions about world peace and if the cockroach called Donald Stump should be allowed to enter the race.
‘It’s a a colorful addition to the day and people really make an effort to dress up,’ said Jo.
This year’s event will involve 14 races, including a steeple chase, where the roaches must climb over strips of garden hose and through puddles to get to the finishing line. While it sounds technically difficult, the roaches have no issue getting through the challenging course.
‘They’ll make their way anywhere. They don’t mind they just want to get away from it,’ says Richard.
Miss Cocky is a cut-throat competition. The entrants have to answer tough questions about world peace
It’s not all about the race: This punter takes time away from the roaches to risk getting dunked
The races were started in 1981 by Richard’s brother Mark. He had been eavesdropping on some old punters having an argument about which Brisbane suburb had the fastest roaches.
He suggested they each bring in a roach to race and the Australia Day tradition was born.
There’s also $2000 up for grabs for the best dressed team. Groups go heavy on the roach theme.
‘Back in 93 these four blokes dressed up as the band, Guns and Roaches. We’ve had Priscilla Queen of the Drains, Millennium Bug, they dressed like computer geeks,’ Richard said.
Bring back the biff: This team was a crowd favorite in 2017 for best dressed on the day
This team wore matching tutus and Australian flag bows in their hair
The money raised from the event goes to Youngcare a charity that works with young people with high care needs.
Richard’s hot tip for punters is to watch out for three previous race winners re-entering the arena to protect their titles.
‘You could probably say there is some classic ones that are probably making a reappearance, Anastasia Crawled Away, Kim Car Squaishian and Kanye Pest. These are probably the three to watch,’
‘And Donald Stump, if he gets a run or not. People have opinions on that,’ he said.
Gates open at 11am with the first roaches released at 12.12 pm. The fight for the Miss Cocky crown begins at 2.45 pm.