In keeping with the heritage theme, there will be categories for the "most splendidly attired lady in Victorian dress", the "most superbly attired Victorian gentleman" and "the most dashing Victorian couple".
There will also be sections for the "most elegantly attired for the modern age", the "finest, most flamboyant hat", the "most brilliantly bedazzling bling" and the most "curious" attire.
The judges are Barry and Else Mackenzie and, yesterday, Mrs Mackenzie said she would be looking for "beautifully dressed people".
The meeting will begin with the first race at 2.35pm, followed by a civic welcome and the release of 100 homing pigeons to jointly celebrate 100 years since the Oamaru Trotting Club, as it was then known, held its first race meeting, and the opening of the town's Victorian heritage celebrations.
A village green of mini-marquees, complete with heritage bunting and old-style signage, is being erected, while a band will be playing and there will be a "village tipster".
There will be a dual sulky celebrity race featuring Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, the Wizard of New Zealand, the Queen of Windsor and North Otago rugby player Ross Hay.
There will also be a driver's race featuring father and son combinations Richard and Emmett Brosnan (Auckland), David and Zac Butcher (Waikato), David and Robert Butt (North Canterbury), Anthony and Chris Butt (Canterbury), Peter and Mark Jones (Canterbury)and Phil and Matthew Williamson (Oamaru) and mother and daughter Denise and Samantha Ottley (South Canterbury).
Other events during the heritage celebrations include a game of "Invincible" rugby, a Victorian garden party and heritage ball on Friday, a grand street parade, trolley derby, national penny-farthing and veteran cycle championships on Saturday and Victorian fete on Sunday.
