Club president Sean Bellew said the Invercargill Gold Cup Day on Saturday was one of the club’s most important meetings and featured prize money amounting to more than $320,000.
To be able to host the event under the Red traffic light setting, the Ascot Park Raceway was separated into four 100-people bubbles — one for club’s members, one for sponsors, one for people involved in the races and one for the general public.
“We worked hard to make the event fun and safe so everybody can have a nice day out at the races.”
"With the cancellation of the many events, it is good to have something different to do," Ms Coopeland said.
"Life has been pretty boring [under the Red light setting], so it is an excuse to dress up and have a nice day out."
"He has been around horses before but this is his first meeting [race]," Mr Popham said.
"It is great just the fact that we can take the opportunity to go to an event like this that is safe and everyone can have a great time."
