Early morning dust storms and the threat of a thunderstorm gave way to intermittent sunshine at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, just in time for the main attraction to start.
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By 1.30pm, event CEO Steve Keene estimated a majority of the 1500 pre-ordered ticket holders had made their way through the gates.
He further estimated that up to 7000 racer-goers would step onto the greens throughout the day.
Aside from the racetrack action, the annual fashions on the field dominated attention.
Alison Jones from Yass cleaned up the competition, taking out both the lady's best dress sash and the title for the best-dressed couple along with Tumut's Jeff Hanson.
A long-term friend of Ms Jones, Mr Hanson also won best-dressed gentleman.
Now a seasoned race-goer, Ms Jones is nationally regarded as one of the best dressed on every field.
"I recently went to Paris after I won at the Melbourne Cup," she said.
"I like to come back for the Wagga races because I went to uni here."
Her preparation for the event started weeks ago.
"I saw the pattern for a 1940s style dress in David Jones and contacted Sovata in Canberra to have them make it," she said.
"I always go classic with a bit of bright colours for spring. It does depend on the season and the location for what I choose, but this time around I think pastels really worked for me."
Placing as runner up to Ms Jones was Meg Maguire from Canberra.
"I'll be at all the local race meeting, I enjoy all of it, the fashion, the horse, seeing what others are wearing. It's all so good," she said.
She too wore a Sovata number, having had her fascinated made specifically to match her frock.
"I usually get the outfit and then message my milliner to make something that fits it," she said.
"This one was made by Jade at Sovata in Canberra."
Meanwhile, second runner-up for the lady's fashion sash was Queanbeyan's, Alisha Harrington. It was her first fashions event.
Where there exists wonder, there is bound to be weird.
While the fashions on the field may be the most coveted prize off the track, there is also the unspoken honour of being crowned the quirkiest dresser at the races.
There were many contenders for the wacky title this year, but none were so committed to the cause as the Ainslie Football Club.
Members Caity Taylor, Nat Frizell and Sophie Travis spent the day inside inflatable jockey suits.
"We're called Yay, Nay and Bae. But obviously, I am a real jockey, this is a real horse and I don't know what you're talking about costumes for," Ms Travis said.
Meanwhile, Larissa Barritt took to the green as a dinosaur, and Em Starczewski came dressed in a bright candy-print suit.
So taken with her attire, organisers approached Ms Starczewski to join the fashions on the field. Unfortunately, she was knocked out of the competition in the first round.
The team's dress up was inspired by the completion of their first season together. Taking out the wooden spoon position, the team decided to go out on a high.
As for the action on the paceway, every punter has a different method of choosing their personal winner.
But a particular strategy worthy of note was offered by three-year-old Donald Ison from Deniliquin. This being his first raceway event, however, his mother Angie said he has already caught the bug.
"Always tip number nine, because that's the strongest one," he said.
His tip did help a few on their way, with his mother admitting one man won $50 off the statement.
It proved further validity during the Aggies Cup when number nine Foxlike placed third behind Old Man's Angel in second and Jaytee's The Fox in first.