Ladies and gentlemen are expected to maintain a suitable standard at many city race meets, with sneakers, thongs, singlets and exposed midriffs strictly prohibited.

Those standards are fervently flouted at the Birdsville Races, where punters come to break all the rules.

Thousands of racegoers have trekked to the outback Queensland carnival, held on the scorching fringes of the Simpson Desert, to take in the sport of kings as ordinary subjects.

Black and green fly nets are the classic and practical look for most spectators hoping to avoid ingesting the insects, affectionately known as outback sultanas.

Michael Wood, from Logan Reserve in Brisbane, said his group of friends were styled by a kindly woman in Windorah on their way to Birdsville.

"The lady told us, 'whatever you do, make an

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