Sweltering heat soaring above 30 degrees didn’t stop travellers as far south as Melbourne and north as Gladstone from descending on the Glen Innes Racecourse for the annual race meet.

The event provided an opportunity for visitors across the region to reunite with old friends and family while, of course, placing some bets.

Glen Innes girl Rhiana Newberry and her friends took a new approach.

“Someone wrote [the horse] on my hand so I’m betting on it,” Ms Newberry said.

Visitor Tess Spencer used the day as an opportunity to meet with family from all over the country.

“Some of our family were in Yamba and we had family holidaying at Broadbeach so we have all met up here today,” Ms Spencer said.

“We have a horse having its third start today, King Amadeus.

“It missed the start but finished well, we didn’t place but it’s a young horse so we’re happy.”

Glen Innes Cup veteran Brendan Campbell also enjoyed the race meet with friends.

“I’ve been coming for many years … we’re having a great day despite the heat,” Mr Campbell said.

Katrina Brewer from the Glen Innes Lioness Club said the day proved a success for them, despite a robbery at the racecourse’s tea room in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“They took most of the food, we had chooks and cold meats in the fridge and they took all that,” she said.

“Apparently somebody saw something so the police came and caught two of them.

“We don’t know how they broke in.

“We had to go and do another shop to get some more food.”

All funds raised by the Lioness Club’s catering goes back into the Glen Innes Jockey Club.

Meanwhile Stephanie James from Glen Innes met up with her high school friends Katie Whittaker from Tamworth and Lily Greenwood from Melbourne at the race day.

“I came to it last year as well … it’s a good day out,” Ms James said.

First-timer, Ms Whittaker said she enjoyed the atmosphere and would definitely be putting the event in her calendar for the years to come.

Glen Innes Jockey Club committee members Greg Barnes and Jenny Hodge said the day proved to be a huge success despite the heat and the day coinciding with the Magic Millions.

“We certainly had full fields so it’s been great,” Ms Hodge said.

As race-goers collectively chugged thousands of litres of beer and champagne, dutiful volunteers including Bill Challen and Don Parker from the Glen Innes Men’s Shed rushed around picking up the empty cans and cups.

“So far there’s been a lot to clean up … I think more than last year,” Mr Parker said.

“There’s about 10 of us that volunteer from the Men’s Shed.”

Festivities were cut short when strong winds and dark clouds began to hit in the late afternoon, leading many to pack up and head home soon after the Fashions on the Fields presentation.

Glen Innes trainer Paddy Cunningham took out the Cup with five-year-old Gold Coast old bay mare, Hula Girl.