Punters might have had mixed fortunes at the Omakau Trots but community organisations were about $20,000 richer as a result of the day.
Run by the Central Otago Trotting Club, the annual races on Saturday attracted several thousand people,
veteran racegoers saying attendance seemed up on previous years. Holidaymakers mingled with locals and the crowd headed for the shade, as the temperature topped about 30degC.
Club president Graham Sinnamon said the event ‘‘makes a hell of a lot of difference to our community''.
Mr Sinnamon estimated community organisations made ‘‘at least $20,000 in total'' from their efforts at the event ‘‘from all kinds of things like being parking wardens, selling hot chips, running the chocolate wheel''.
That figure did not include the spin-off benefit to nearby businesses from the influx of visitors.
Keeping the younger show patrons entertained was a major focus of the organisers and had been for several decades, Mr Sinnamon said.
Attractions for the children included a horse-shoe toss, tug-of-war, swingball, colouring competitions, mini jeeps, aqua bubbles, pony rides and a scavenger hunt.
‘‘The aim was to have the parents saying ‘it's time to go home' and the kids saying no, they wanted to stay longer, rather than the other way around,'' Mr Sinnamon said.
Nine-year-old James Freeman, of Dunedin, was thrilled to get a pony ride.
His family was holidaying in Cromwell and his mother, Donya Guyton, said the free activities for children were a major attraction of the races.
‘‘We've got four kids and it's nice to have something free for the kids to do. This is absolutely great. We came to this race meeting for the first time last year and loved it, so we're back again,'' she said.
James was in his element, enjoying the pony ride, she said.
‘‘For his ninth birthday he went on a horse trek in Golden Bay - he absolutely loves horses.
''The Fashions on the Field contest also proved popular, with 28 entering. It was won by Lee Hoare.
