Bumper crowd turns out for Burdekin Growers Race Day | PHOTOS

Visitors came from as far afield as Brisbane, Cairns, Mt Isa and Cloncurry to attend the popular annual event, pulled together by the Burdekin Race Club's band of enthusiastic volunteers.

The concept of the Growers Race Day was originally designed to bring patrons to the track to socialise and experience a great day out with a difference, with farmers and business owners contributing freshly picked produce to give away to patrons.

This year's 10-hour open air event was themed "party in the tropics" and thousands of patrons pre-booked their tables, dressed to impress and streamed through the gates for the program of six local races.

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More than 100 entrants contested the five categories of Fashions on the Field during the afternoon with a thousand-strong crowd gathering to watch the parade of classic, colourful and creative outfits

Locally owned horse Rebel Lake, trained by Burdekin Race Club president Rick Gudge, won the Carlton and United Breweries Burdekin Cup.

The three local owners Rick Gudge, Ron Scott and Jeremy Caspanello were ecstatic with the win in front of their home town crowd.

Earlier in the day the local Tapiolas and Johnstone families celebrated success with their horse Hibachi Miss winning the Don West Toyota 1000m Class B Handicap.

The day also celebrated the continued involvement of the same original members of the Burdekin Race Club who orchestrated the inaugural Burdekin Growers Race Day back in 1999.

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