From his vantage point Dave McDonald could see almost every centimetre of the Kurow racecourse.
But, for a moment at least, the 35-year race-calling veteran's mind was elsewhere.
"Did you see that four-dog crash the other day at Ascot Park?" he asked. "There were heads, legs and tails everywhere. It was spectacular."
Below, a crowd of locals and out-of-towners moved between food and beverage vans, the tote, marquees and contented children with pottles and snacks.
Greyhounds were great because they were so fast and loved the thrill of the chase, Mr McDonald said. Most horses, though, would rather not be on the track, he added.
A delay to race two, following two horses slipping in the first event of the day, shifted his attention back to the meeting at hand.
"It's a good fun day, nice place, nice people," he said.
"They tend to put the stakes up to attract the horses."
Mr McDonald, who calls races in Otago, Southland and elsewhere when asked, said his craft was all about remembering colours.
"You have remembered a few colours after four days on the trot," he said. "I'm looking forward to a cold beer, a barbecue and a sleep-in."
Below, race two was about to begin, and the crowd was swelling as the low cloud, which had brought morning rain, continued to lift.
Trainer Murray Hamilton, of Omakau, had been bringing horses to the meeting for seven or eight years, and had Mimado in race three and Lauder Creek in race nine.
"It's a lovely country meeting with a good track; it's been irrigated and had a couple of millimetres of rain on it, which did not hurt it," he said.
Nearby, Christina Fawke (8), who lives near Brisbane, Australia, enjoyed a sulky ride behind a Chancarla Farm pony named White Socks.
Christina was looking forward to the final two weeks of her holiday after already visiting the Moeraki Boulders and picnicking in Hagley Park in the aftermath of the latest Christchurch earthquake on December 23.
Jockey Toni Direen (18), of Wingatui, had four rides on her first day's racing in Kurow. The track had a long [350m] straight, with a long sweeping turn beginning at 800m, she said.
Club president Simon Williamson was thrilled with how the day had gone - especially since Fellini, owned by the Hunter Syndicate which has a long association with the club - had won the Kurow Cup.
Dennis Hazlett, who had presented the cup to the club while working for sponsors PGG Wrightson 18 years ago, was part of the syndicate and can now lay claim to the trophy as an owner.
The tote turnover was good and about 4000 people had attended a "good day's racing in the Waitaki Valley", Mr Williamson said.
