More than 7000 locals and holidaymakers enjoyed the sun at the Interislander Summer Festival at the Tauranga Race Course on Friday.
The first race started at 1.30pm with the majority of punters already settled in for the day.
Mount Maunganui's Taylor Muir joined almost a dozen others down at the races. It was her second time going to the annual January 2 event.
"It is just good vibes with family and friends. We won $70 last year and $12 so far this year so fingers crossed for the rest of the day," she said.
Ms Muir said she would try and place a bet on each race throughout the day but with the help of two little birdies.
"Our grandparents text us through what to bet on. We won this way last year as well," she said.
Matua's Heather Lorney said the day was an awesome way to catch up with friends from her days at Otago University studying nutrition. "We all went to uni together, but we all come back to Tauranga for the holidays and this is the one event we can get together. Our friend sent a Facebook message to everybody she could think of who has lived in the Tauranga area and so we all came."
Ms Lorney said compared with any other race day, it was nice to be able to get closer to the horses.
"You go to the Melbourne Cup or the races in Sydney and you can't see a horse ever, there are just too many people."
NZ Racing Board's Head of Event Marketing Janice Hill said the festival had something for everyone to enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere. The day continued a trend for big crowds on course at Tauranga.
"We're thrilled that so many people came out today to enjoy a day of picnics, fantastic entertainment for young and old and the odd flutter on their favourite horse," she said.
The Interislander Summer Festival has 39 events this season, with holiday races at some of the country's most picturesque racecourses from Ruakaka in the north to Gore in the south.