The Bendigo Cup took a while to warm up – literally and metaphorically – but it finished as many others preceding it had, with sun-soaked punters crammed against the gleaming white race track fence cheering their nominated horse on.
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The annual event at the Bendigo Jockey Club on Wednesday was typically regional – relaxed and unpretentious – with a smattering of celebrities, including Molly Meldrum, Billy Brownless and Kevin Sheedy.
Bendigo Jockey Club chief executive officer Aaron Hearps said the day could not have run much smoother.
Related: Live at the Bendigo Cup 2017
“Operationally it went really well, the crowd was well behaved and the course looked amazing,” he said.
He said Kerrin McEvoy – jockey of the Bendigo Cup winning horse, Qewy – commented on how well the track raced.
Crowd figures, although yet to be finalised, were in the region of 8000, he said.
Bendigo police had a quiet day.
Acting Senior Sergant Len Ladner, speaking at 4pm, said police had no issue with behaviour, making no arrests.
Around 15 officers were patrolling the grounds of the Bendigo Jockey Club.
The cup was a celebration of mateship for one group of seasoned punters, three of which served in the Vietnam War 50 years ago.
Being conscripted at the age of 19 was tough, according to one of the men Dave Canny, who said he made some great mates during his time in the army.
The group, now enjoying retirement, have been to the Bendigo Cup for the past 12 years.
Grant Wee Hee lit up the corporate area with his goldfish suit.
"I thought it would be something a bit different, everybody wears similar colours at events like these," he said.
In his second year at the cup, Mr Wee Hee said the event, for him, was all about catching up with friends and people you might not have run into for a while.
Elsewhere, Jodie Fittock and Shona Lourie - enjoying the food and drink in the corporate section - said it was a lovely day for the cup.
"It hasn't changed too much over the years - it's still a country cup at heart," Ms Fittock said.
Punter James Walsh said the beauty of the cup was how relaxed it was.
"It's good to have a laugh with your mates and not worry about losing anyone, and fingers crossed you have a win on the punt," he said.
