Click or flick across for more photos from the races.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
IT was a day of firsts for some lucky punters looking to have a fun day out at Albury’s Melbourne Cup races.
Albury’s Melissa Bihler, 19, decided at the last minute to place a bet on the Cup.
“It was my first bet ever,” the happy punter said.
“I turned my $20 into $140.
“I couldn’t believe it because I know nothing about horses.”
It was a similar story for Yackandandah’s Brian Lannen, 52, who has never been to a NSW race meeting.
“I was looking left for the horses and they have come from the right,” he said.
“See it’s different to Victoria.”
Mr Lannen was having a bit of luck but he had his money on Sea Moon because the jockey had the same first and last names as a friend.
“I am seeing him next month, so if it doesn’t win I will hang it on him,” he said.
Perfect weather conditions attracted an official crowd of 3300 at Albury, up on last year’s 3160.
Albury Racing Club chief executive John Miller was impressed with the crowd numbers shortly after the main race and before a final tally came in, he said the crowd “felt up”.
“Looking around the crowd, there’s a younger crowd this year,” he said. “The young ones have really complemented our figures this year.”
But the race chief lucked out picking a winner in the Cup.
Away from the betting ring, a gathering of well-dressed racegoers was sipping champagne and dining on fine food in the Carevan Foundation marquee.
Carevan chief Jodie Tiernan said the fund-raiser drew 106 people at $150 a ticket.
“We raised about $3000 from ticket sales and sweepstakes,” she said.
“This means we have enough to purchase a van for Wodonga, which we will be picking up in Melbourne in a few weeks.”
The spring carnival will continue at Albury tomorrow for the Oaks Day meeting.
