Little Pixie, a papillon/chihuahua dog, has attended every year for the past 14 years ''without fail''.
Long-time racing enthusiast Helen Patterson, of Ashburton, said Pixie could nearly read the race-book.
''We're teaching her.''
The pair enjoyed the weather, the people, the fun and generally a ''great day out'' at the race meeting.
The annual post-Christmas meeting is always a popular event on the calendar of holiday-makers staying in the Waitaki Valley, as well as locals.
Yesterday was no exception as hundreds of people converged on the Kurow racecourse for a relaxing day out.
Oamaru woman Sandra Familton and her family were holidaying in Otematata and it was her first time to the races.
She was enjoying the great atmosphere and having a flutter - putting $1 each way on horses whose names caught her fancy.
''I look at the form a wee bit but I like the name more,'' she said.
Kurow was bustling with activity yesterday as holiday-makers also enjoyed a market day in the town as part of the Kurow Festival.
The popular Hay family has been reinstated in the main street, in time for the influx of visitors.
The family is created from large hay bales.
