Revamp ups record race day turnout

AFTER a rainy day setback last week, the Cairns Cup Carnival bounced back hard with a record-breaking turnout on Saturday.

The organisers put their faith in beautiful weather to bring out the crowds on the second day of the event, and the Far North delivered.

Cairns Jockey Club general manager John Cameron said while numbers hadn’t been finalised, he was confident the club had exceeded its target of 5500 people through the gates.

“We already know from pre-sales that it’s been a record crowd for us,” he said.

Mr Cameron said the record prizemoney in the races and Fashions on the Field helped drive quality entrants, but the real drawcard was the new facilities, such as the Nautilus Aviation Fashion Pavilion.

“Having that host the fashions and the after-party was a new scenario for us, on a beautiful day like (Saturday), those get used to the maximum,” he said.

The club also had a weatherproof sail set up at the Wolf Blass mounting area, an extended roofing area at the Seven Cairns Pavilion and a marquee between the tie-up stalls and the greyhound pavilion, firsts for the Cup.

Regular punter Sam Doolan, from Earlville, said she was thrilled to be back at the Cup after the rain drove her away from last week’s event.

“There’s so much to enjoy about the Cup – the racing, the social life; it’s a beautiful day out when the weather’s nice,” she said.

Mr Cameron said the extra undercover facilities helped the club recover from the setback of last week’s rain.

“Cairns is unique in that we’ve got four exceptionally good race days almost in a row – two days of Cairns Cup and two days of Amateurs,” he said.

“The community gets behind all of them – you can see that in the fashion and the photos that come out of it.”

Mr Cameron said the fashion events were what really drove the interest and the passion in the carnival.

“The ladies are so well organised at getting prepared, it builds that interest,” he said.

“Compared to the men, who do it in a week.”

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Pictures: STEWART McLEAN STYLISH: Rowena Petersen takes part in Fashions on the Field.

TRACK SIDE: Taylor Blue, Josh Veale and Tennyson Boag take up their prime viewing positions.

FAMILY FUN: Jesse, 5, and Ben Napper enjoy the action.

DAY OUT: Linda Marino, Bernadette Lago, Susan Plos and Angelina Betros get together at the races.

SOCIAL SCENE: Meg Svendsen and Hannah Van Dorsen enjoy Cairns Cup day at Cannon Park.

FUN IN THE SUN: Layla, 5, and Charlie Finnott, 3, with their grandmother, Carolyn Jensen.

DOLLED UP: Sarrah Myrteza in Fashions on the Field.

DAPPER COUPLE: Brendon Soderberg and Chloe Fegatilli.

FORM GUIDE: Racehorse owner Bob Watson studies the form at Cannon Park on Saturday.