New chief executive Malcolm Hart was thrilled with the attendance, saying it was the first time he had seen the track so full after taking on the new job in August.

“It’s kind of ironic because for a race meet with the smallest number of horse races, it’s attracted the largest crowd all season,” he said.

Mr Hart also contributed the large crowd to increased umbrella packages and great weather.

“We had about triple the amount of pre-package sales as last year,” he said.

“The weather has been very kind to us and the crowd have been very well-behaved, so we can’t ask for much more than that.”

Mr Hart was also delighted to see racegoers had made an effort to dress to impress.

“It’s great to see all the young people, including the boys, dressed up; it’s just been wonderful.”

The track, which underwent resodding works and other preparations in the lead-up to yesterday’s Melbourne Cup, seemed to have paid off for both jockeys and the horse trainers.

“It’s raced really well today and the jockeys are all happy so that’s the main thing.” Mr Hart said.

The Turf Club is now looking ahead to its Wangaratta Cup in April next year, with plans to hopefully get some major acts to headline the event.

“We need to make the Wangaratta Cup a more important race for the local community here because people here have not embraced it,” Mr Hart said.

“What people need to understand is that we have been racing here since 1985 and the cup has been run since 1903 and we have to value things like that.

“I have learnt a lot from this year and was nervous about how today would go – trying to organise such a large event for more than 5000 people is huge.

“But the people here have made it fabulous.”