The annual Melbourne Cup event attracted about 8400 people and intoxication was rife in the crowd, with many arriving drunk.
The St John "rehydration tent" was busy throughout the day providing a safe place for drunk punters.
Gallop South chief executive officer Andre Klein said while most of the event went well, there were a "lot of issues" early on with intoxicated people.
"It disappoints me how some people let themselves down in how much they get intoxicated before they come to the races."
Two of the public bars were closed from 4pm to 5.30pm.
The issue was not in the corporate marquees, but in the public areas, he said.
Organisers had banned people from bringing alcohol, and imposed a limit on the number of drinks that could be bought at one time.
But the race meeting was a "long day in the sunshine" which often got the better of people.
However, the rest of the day "went as smooth as ... ever".
"Ninety-nine percent of people had a really good time and were really well behaved," he said.
Senior Sergeant Darryl Lennane, of Mosgiel, said a number of people were "highly intoxicated".
Despite a strong police presence, four motorists leaving the ground were charged with drink-driving.
Three people were also charged with breaching the peace, assault and disorderly behaviour.
