The weather didn’t deter the patrons, nor send them away, from Melbourne Cup Day at the Bairnsdale Racecourse on Tuesday with a great social day enjoyed by all who attended.

“It was a very, very successful day,” Bairnsdale Racing Club manager, David Power said.

“The weather gave us one of those days that if you wait five minutes it will change, but the rain didn’t seem to prevent people from coming, and once they were here it didn’t make them want to leave.

“Numbers were up on last year, with around 2210 coming through the gates. I heard Flemington was down by about 20 per cent, mainly due to the weather, but we didn’t have a problem.

“Over 1000 had pre-booked and prepaid for Tuesday, so they were obliged to come or lose their money, but we had good patronage on our buses and our bar takings were well up.

“Our upstairs corporate dining was full with 190. Marquee and umbrella packages were sold out the week before with 14 umbrellas and 16 marquees, eight corporate and eight private.

“Fashions on the Field were fantastic and crazy, with some really going all out, and with live entertainment too, the social side was great.

“It’s events with events, like Fashions on the Field, that really create a great day. They’re capturing people’s attention all the time, keeping them engaged.

“It’s a really social day, and that’s what we’re trying to promote. It’s about the racing for sure, but it’ s a social day, too.

“The TAB ladies were kept busy and said it was like the old days, everyone converging on the undercover areas to place their bets.

“What was really great was Jackson Pallottrained Lofoten Road winning race two. It was terrific to have a locally trained horse come out with a win.”

PICTURED: Dressed for a great day out were Jess Houghton, Emily Eenjes, Caitlin Murray, Katie Faithfull, Leigh Mitchell, Lara Thomas, Jasmine Hill, Stevie Alvin, Rose and Sarah Faithfull, Mollie Overend and Mat Faithfull.