Yesterday, the longstanding committee members were the life of the party at the Interislander Summer Festival Roxburgh Trots at the local racecourse, swapping yarns, cracking jokes and enjoying the atmosphere.
Because it was the only race meet of the year at the Roxburgh racecourse, the duo were giving it their all.
Mr Robinson said racing was "in his blood".
"As long as the beer’s flowing at the end of the day’s proceedings ... it is what it is — it’s just madness."
Mr Robinson (known as "Milky" because he was a milkman when he arrived in Roxburgh) was president of the trotting club for nine years.
But although he owned a horse, he was never a jockey.
"I was too big and tall for a jockey — the wind would’ve blown me off the saddle."
Mr Mason, on the other hand, has spent 40 years working with the club and has never owned a horse.
"I started off cleaning toilets, then the electrical stuff," he said.
"I’ve been buried in cables for 30 years."
Mr Robinson and Mr Mason said the camaraderie and people they met brought them back to the race track every year.
"It’s wonderful, but it’s quite a lot of work for one day," Mr Mason said.
While there was only one race meet a year, the grounds were used for events such as the local A&P show and classic car rallies, Mr Mason said.
"I even had my 80th birthday here last year," Mr Robinson said.
The Roxburgh Trots are part of the Interislander Summer Festival, run by The Races Ltd at 30 locations around the country from Boxing Day to Waitangi Day.
The festival’s next Otago racing meet is in Cromwell tomorrow.
