But yesterday's race meet was no less momentous, featuring another family win, a reunion of sorts and a reminder of ''what a great race meet this is'', Omakau woman Penny Sinnamon said.
Mrs Sinnamon, who happens to be the vicar of the Anglican Dunstan parish, was in celebratory mode at the Omakau Trots yesterday with her husband and all four of her children, who were also at the meet.
Her son, Graham Sinnamon, who is president of the Central Otago Trotting Club, said the day was ''like Christmas'' when he drove the family's horse Gabby Star to a win in the first race of the day, the Bishopdale Tavern/Bush Inn Tab/Alexandra New World Mob Pace.
''It's hard to win at these races,'' Graham Sinnamon said. ''This is a big event. It's not often you get to win here.''
It was almost 60 years to the day since Lionel Sinnamon had another big day with one of his horses.
In 1959 there was no Omakau trots meet, just a two-day Omakau gallops event, but two trots races were held each day of the event.
She knew of Lionel Sinnamon before the dance, but it was at the dance that they met properly, dancing all night and going on to get married three years later.
It was special to have a kind of ''60th anniversary'' yesterday of the race win and meeting her future husband, she said.
Graham Sinnamon said, other than it being a special day for his family, the race day had gone ''brilliantly''. He estimated the crowd number at about 7000.
The Omakau gallops meet is being held today.
