Otago Daily Times photographers Peter McIntosh and Christine O’Connor capture the atmosphere at Melbourne Cup Day at Wingatui yesterday.
Sergeant Kevin Davidson, of Mosgiel, said the crowd was both one of the smallest and best-behaved police had seen.
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''We're very, very happy. It's the first time in seven years they've had good weather, so that just sets the mark I think, people's attitudes change.''
Otago Racing Club general manager Rebecca Adlam said it was a ''fantastic day''.
''Numbers at the start of the day were a wee bit down on last year, but we've had a fantastic walk-up crowd.''
The sun shone and behaviour was great, she said.
''It is a flagship event for the club.''
Acting Inspector Craig Dinnissen, of Dunedin, said there were seven evictions by police officers or security guards at the Wingatui Melbourne Cup Day yesterday, and one arrest after a ''minor assault'' on a security guard, but the event was not nearly as boozy as in previous years.
Twenty-nine people were treated by St John for a range of injuries and other issues, Insp Dinnissen said.
"There was a combination of sunburn, twisted ankles from high heels and intoxication.
"The levels of intoxication weren't as [high] as in previous years.''
Police believed a significant decrease in attendance was partly to thank for a relatively quiet day out, understood to be about 3500 through the gate this year compared to 8000 in previous years.
