Another large race crowd expected

A fire breather, stilt walker and two characters in colourful costumes will welcome racegoers on course at Christmas at the Races in Invercargill on December 16.

Southland Racing Club officials Sean Bellew and Andrea Thomas want the racecourse to have a carnival atmosphere from the time public arrive until they leave.

The Dunedin branch of Highly Flammable Creative Entertainment is providing the fire breather and stilt walker.

Racegoers will be invited to take part in a $500 rugby ball kicking competition involving All Black Damian McKenzie and his brother Marty, who plays for Taranaki.

More than 3000 people have bought race-day packages to attend functions in marquees, rooms and corporate areas. Bellew and Thomas expect the walk-up crowd on the day to be about 3000, with fine weather.

The biggest crowd was 8000 in 2014, Thomas said.

Bellew said racegoers were important customers and the days of opening the gate on premier race days and letting them wander without continuous entertainment were over.

‘‘You’ve got to give them the best bang for their buck.’’

In 10 years of staging Christmas at the Races, the club had learnt a lot about hosting big crowds, Bellew said.

The club created history two years ago when the Christmas meeting was held on two racecourses.

The Ascot Park galloping track was closed for an upgrade and the horses raced at Winton, while most of the racegoers watched the races on giant television screens at Ascot Park.

‘‘The racing purists were at Winton and socialites at Ascot Park,’’ Bellew said.