The ''sold out'' sign is up on almost all hospitality options for racegoers on Melbourne Cup Day on November 5, and 100 tents are already confirmed for the Christmas At The Races meeting in Cromwell on December 1, Otago Racing Club chief executive Andre Klein said.
''On Cup Day, with the exception of the Starters Bar student marquee, which we have extended in order to increase its capacity to 500 people, we are completely sold out [for pre-sold hospitality],'' he said.
''This is the first time this has ever happened since the meeting commenced in 2004, which is obviously pleasing for the committee and all involved.''
General admission tickets are still available.
The bumper sales have stretched to the Cromwell meeting, which has been upgraded to feature status by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing this season - a tactic that should ensure larger fields than last season, when just 64 horses lined up across eight races.
''This meeting will be the biggest we have ever staged in my 10 years at the Otago Racing Club, with over 100 tents confirmed, which equates to more than 4500 people already holding tickets.
''We have filled every available marquee spot and created overflow marquee after overflow marquee, in regards to ticketed functions. The 40 mini marquees located in the centre of the track have been sold out for over a month.''
All that remained was for the weather to play its part, Klein said.
''After a shocking year last season on our major days, in regards to the weather, we are just keeping our fingers crossed for better luck this time around.''
