Australia has a new race to stop the nation but this time the competitors have wings.
Twelve elite racing pigeons will be flapping it out on Monday in The Great Betfair Pink Pigeon Race launched on Saturday.
The aim is to raise dollars for breast care nurses in rural and regional Australia.
Proceeds will go to the McGrath Foundation - named after Jane McGrath, the late wife of Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath, who died from breast cancer last June.
The inaugural event at Glenn McGrath Oval in Narromine, in NSW's central west, is a 30km race that will finish at the tiny wheat town of Trangie on day three of the Sydney Test between Australia and South Africa - renamed Jane McGrath Day by Cricket Australia.
Punters will be able to place bets on the pigeons named after the Nine Network's cricket commentary team through online betting exchange Betfair.
Betfair spokesman Hugh Taggart said the event was starting in the hometown of the Glenn "Pidge" McGrath.
"We hope the Great Betfair Pigeon Race captures the imagination of the Australian public and becomes an annual event on the Australian sporting calendar for many years to come," Mr Taggart said.
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