Even a thunderous prelude to the club’s biggest meet of the year – 20 millimetres of rain fell on Christmas night and yesterday morning at the track – didn’t keep punters away, with more than 1500 people galloping through the gates.

Quirindi Jockey Club secretary-manager Ted Wilkinson said that as soon as the sun came out, so did the patrons.

“There were a lot of people calling in the morning not sure if it wasn’t going to be on,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“But once they knew it was, they came out in droves.”

He described it as a “young person’s day”, with racegoers coming from across the region. “A lot of them are former locals home from uni or their job in the city,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“They come home for Christmas and come to the races with family and friends.”

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