Whanganui punters revel in Melbourne Cup action

Brian Rook appeared to be one of few winners watching the Melbourne Cup at Hatrick Raceway. Photos/ Stuart Munro

It's a good thing expertise is not always required to win a Melbourne Cup bet.

Brian Rook was one of hundreds of Whanganui people who paused at 5pm on Tuesday to watch the Melbourne Cup and see if their annual flutter or office sweepstake came in.

"I wouldn't know one end of a horse from the other," Rook said after the race.

Even so, he had a $5 each way bet on Cross Counter which came in with a strong home straight run to snatch the 158th Melbourne Cup.

Rook doesn't usually follow racing but like many is "an annual punter on the Melbourne Cup" and was one of about 150 people gathered at Hatrick Raceway to watch the famous race.

Wanganui Greyhound Racing Club manager Andrew Hansen said the club always had a greyhound meeting on Melbourne Cup day with punters coming in early to watch the action from across the ditch before the dogs got underway.

About 150 gathered at Hatrick Raceway to watch the race that stops two nations.

"It's a good solid crowd for a Tuesday afternoon but it is the race that stops a nation," he said.

"You can't describe it. It is one of those things and so much is built around it. We're all about promoting greyhound racing and having this meeting helps it."