Beers, a few winners, what a day

Ben Gilby (centre) headed along to the Rotorua Cup as part of his stag party. Photo / Ben Fraser

Ben Gilby admits he's a bit of a betting man, but he still was rather chuffed with how his bank balance looked after a day at the Rotorua Cup.

He and a bunch of mates were among a couple of thousand people who headed to the Racing Rotorua's flagship race day - the Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup - on Saturday.

The trip was part of his stag do ahead of his wedding in Rarotonga in three weeks time.

"We made it back to Hamilton in one piece and I even had some money in the bank," he said.

"I had a really good day."

Held at Arawa Park, it was the 70th running of the $75,000 cup event.

TRAC marketing sponsorship and events manager Don Paterson said the atmosphere was fantastic, helped by the good weather. "There was a lot of cheering and screaming as the horses were coming down the straight and that's always a good indication."

Mr Paterson said they were a bit concerned with the crowd to begin with.

"There were not a hell of a lot of people there before race two but after that, they just arrived."

He said while there were plenty of families who headed along with their kids, serious punters weren't disappointed either, with a strong field racing.

"There were horses from the deep south, to the far north."

Mr Paterson said they would look at doing more to attract people in their 20s and 30s to races in the future.

"There wasn't that young adult market that we need if racing is going to survive."

The trip for two to Australia was won by Rotorua woman Korina Te Hou, who plans to visit her sister in Melbourne who she hasn't seen in 15 years.