As he readied his three runners at the Towong Turf Club track at Saturday’s Christmas meeting, Waters was quietly confident at least one of them would score.

After straightening his hat, he declared No. 2 might be an omen because all his horses had a history of “bolting” from that barrier.

“Is it the Chinese number for luck?” he wondered.

Unfortunately, his predictions proved almost as wide as his hat’s brim — although one of his horses did manage a second place — but he was consoled there was always the club’s main meeting in March and other opportunities before then.

Waters, who was the club’s president almost 30 years ago, said the track was in the best nick he had seen.

Track manager Vincent Cross said the weather had been on the club’s side and the track had been well irrigated.

The century-old grandstand proved popular with the 1200 race-goers. Many punters enjoyed the view from the stand — the oldest of its kind in Victoria — for the first time in two years.

Rodger’s cousin Geoff Waters has been a Towong race-goer for 65 years, carrying on the family tradition. His father rode his first winner at the track in 1921.

“It’s great the grandstand has reopened because you get a good look at the horses from up here,” he said.

Club manager Rohan Whitehead said Saturday’s meeting had proved to be as popular as past years.

“People see this area as being a bit of an oasis,” he said.

“It’s remote and unique. There’s also historical significance with the grandstand and the 100-year-old elm trees.”

Mr Whitehead said he expected the number of people who attended the club’s March 7 cup meeting would double.