Perfect spring weather saw the club attract a crowd of 2500 and trump last year’s figure of 2000, the biggest in more than a decade.

Club manager Tom O’Connor said the meeting had become the club’s third biggest behind Wodonga Cup day and Boxing Day.

“The marquees and deck area are proving popular with the patrons and a lot of people are coming back after enjoying themselves the previous year,” he said.

“There is a number of groups which come back from Melbourne every year to help boost numbers.

“We try to look after them and they just keep coming back.

“There is a couple of punter’s clubs and sporting trips away that are booking six months in advance.

“The members area was also well patronised and we got some positive feedback about having Carlton products over the bar for the first time in six years.”

The club also held a fund-raiser with the Border Ovarian Cancer Awareness Group which successfully raised $15,000 for cancer research on the Border.

“In two years the partnership has raised $30,000 for ovarian cancer on the Border,” O’Connor said.

“It is a great partnership and fantastic that the racegoers embrace the concept.”