Otago Racing Club general manager Noelle Prince said while the event was not as busy as previous years, the cold and wet did not stop families from getting out and enjoying a day at the races.
"We’re still doing all our activities. We’ve just had to change it slightly. We’re just making the most of it as it comes."
The children’s fashion in the field was moved indoors, as was the colouring competition.
The children still managed to get outside, the annual teddy bear scavenger hunt happening between rain showers.
The only event to get the chop was the sack race, as nobody wanted the children slipping all over the muddy ground.
"It’s still a great turnout and people are still enjoying themselves."
The cold did not deter one Dunedin family, who continued their 15-year tradition of spending Boxing Day at the races.
Rugged up, the family perched themselves in a sheltered corner of the stands to watch the races, eat Christmas leftovers and have a couple of beers to wash it down.
Patriarch of the family Grant Reid said the tradition started with the boys of the family, but as the girls got older they started joining them for the post-Christmas fun.
"The grandkids have now taken over though. They’re following through."
The weather was not playing ball for the day, however, with mud, grey skies, cold temperatures and spatters of rain.
Grand-daughter Mia Stout said that did not stop them, as "rain, hail or shine, they’re here".
The race day included the first heats for the Southern Mile series.
Two heats were held yesterday and horses had to get points to be eligible to go through.
The final of the Southern Mile series will be back in Wingatui in February.
