The Waimate man, who was one of 3122 people who attended the Kurow Races yesterday, said he came back each year because of the atmosphere.
''I like the country people ... Kurow people and it's just a very friendly, very nice meeting.''
Mr Fenwick, who was recently awarded life-membership of the Kurow Jockey Club, recalls the first time he went to the Kurow Races when he was 15, with his father and grandfather.
''I remember they used to load the horses off the train and load them on again ...,'' he said, ''When I was about 20, I was an apprentice and I had 10 shillings to spend and I backed a horse and it finished a comfortable third, but the judge posted the fifth horse into third place, and I could see the jockeys arguing with the birdcage attendants, and I lost my money.''
Mr Fenwick has never owned horses himself but enjoyed accompanying his grandfather William Payne to the races. His grandfather's most successful horse, All Night, won 22 races.
Kurow Jockey Club president Simon Williamson was thrilled with the weather, and the turnout, yesterday.
The ''outstanding'' condition of the track was a talking point and having it compared to some of the best in the country was a testament to the commitment of the volunteers, he said.
