Have you thought about how you will navigate the week and make it to the other side of the city’s biggest social event?

Here’s your insiders survival guide to what to wear, how to bet, how to get there and how to skip the painfully long toilet queues. 

Yeah, yeah, we know you think reading the form guide is for crusty old punters that smell of tobacco and VB.

You could always keep picking horses based on your favourite colour or pretty name. But be prepared to go home broke.

Thoroughbred horses are amazingly consistent animals and if you can crack the code in the form guide, you can beat the bookies.

Look for horses that are good at the track and distance, have solid recent form and have drawn a good barrier (anything inside barrier 10).

Even better, go and watch them in the parade yard. Not only are they breathtakingly beautiful animals, but the trained eye can tell how they're feeling on the day.

For short races (1000m-1400m), look for horses that are compact and stoutly built, with big strong behinds. Don't worry too much about how fit they look, pick the ones that looked keyed-up, bouncy and ready to go. If they're sweating a lot between the legs or around the flanks (near the lower ribs), your horse has already expended a lot of energy.

For longer races (2000m+), look for horses that have a longer, narrower look about them. You also want your distance horses to be relaxed, rather than champing at the bit.

Most importantly, don't bet more than you can afford. Set a bank you're prepared to lose and stick to it. Happy punting!

Ladies, while sky-high heels and a mini skirt might seem like a good idea at the time, do yourself a favour and skip the blisters and goosebumps by dressing appropriately. Not only does this mean adhering to the dress code, but also dressing with smarts.

If you are wearing high heels, stow a pair of flat shoes in your handbag. And while we don’t want to sound like your mother, at least carry a light cardigan to keep warm, as your race day transitions into night.

Gold Cup organiser Scott Sanbrook suggests race-goers take a look at the map of the grounds, to ensure the maze of punters doesn’t leave you in a sweaty panic. 

Know where to place your bets, where to find food and drinks, how to get to the portable toilets (a much better option if you want to avoid queues) and where you’ll position yourself for the day.

Whether that’s in front of the track, or in front of the drinks tent.

Whether you’ve chosen a designated driver, have booked a taxi or are taking a courtesy bus, make sure you’ve pre-arranged your wheels. 

Fashion at the Wagga Gold Cup is judged on the catwalk during Fashions on the Field but readers of The Daily Advertiser also have a chance to vote for their favourite outfit in the Hot 100.

The annual competition gives race goers the chance to vote for their favourite outfit from the day. 

Keep an eye out for Advertiser photographers who will be snapping photos of 100 of the best dressed people on race day.

Last year’s winner, Isabella Tinsley, threw her outfit together at the last minute but it paid off when she took out first place with more than 900 votes in the top 25 judging.

She won a free test drive of an Audi luxury vehicle followed by a dinner for two at Bolton on the Park and a bottle of 2006 Moet. 

To vote in this year’s Hot 100 go to The Daily Advertiser website and search for Wagga Gold Cup Hot 100 2017.

If you ask any fashionista they’ll tell you that the final touches are vital to bringing their winning races outfit together.

Passionate Fashions on the Field competitors will have their outfit ready months in advance and will spend the final weeks before the races tweaking accessories or deciding on their hair and make-up style.

While there are some who will put an together an outfit at the last minute it certainly isn’t the norm.

“Being able to put an outfit together that suits your personally, fits beautifully and looks stunning takes a lot of time and effort to achieve,” Riverina Millinery Association president Jo-Anne Rolfe said.

“It’s not something you can throw together in the last half hour before you leave, although some people can do that.”

The milliner has been designing and making hats and head pieces for the past 10 years and believes grooming is key to topping off a perfect outfit.

“Grooming is one of the most essential parts of an outfit on race day. Make-up and hair are extremely important,” she said.

When it comes to the type of outfits that will hit the catwalks at this year’s Gold Cup Ms Rolfe believes the weather will have an impact.

“We’re looking at trans seasonal fashion again because it’s been so warm,” she said.

“We’ll see quite a lot of yellows carry over to autumn fashions.”

While most the Fashions on the Field categories focus on the outfit as a whole, the millinery awards pay special attention to headwear.

The piece must make a statement while continuing to complement the outfit, something Ms Rolfe is all too familiar with.

“The headpiece defines the outfit and will make you standout from the crowd,” she said.

Many turn to their headwear to give them some personality and individual style.

Handcrafted headwear will be offered up by 10 local milliners in the lead-up to the Gold Cup. Milliners will set up the Avenue of Hats at the Marketplace until the day before Gold Cup Day (May 4).