Wet weather's kept some punters at bay on Trotting Cup Day, with the best dressed pairing their fascinators with raincoats and umbrellas.
The 12,000-strong crowd descended on Addington Raceway as a day of rain ended the 50-year drought.
Addington Raceway CEO Brian Thompson said while "usually we get a big walk up crowd, but that's just dwindled down".
"I've been coming here for 20 years," one attendee said. "Probably the worst cup day weather"
However, the majority of those who turned up were determined to have a good time – just adding umbrellas to their dress code.
Thompson said Cantabrians – and those attending from the rest of the country and Australia – are "definitely hardy folk".
"A bit of rain won't worry anyone."
As racegoers began streaming in, one said: "The rain's not going to stop the fun."
The catering was certainly designed to lift the spirits, with 1000 punnets of strawberries, a tonne of gourmet potatoes and 350 dozen oysters on the shopping list.
And the Best Dressed Lady competition was still top-tier. It was won for the second year in a row by Pauline Pattullo, who was resplendent in pink and green.
"Cup Day only comes 'round once a year so you've gotta be here, and we won't let the weather put a dampener on it."
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