Fans delight at Melbourne Cup festivities in Tauranga

Punters at the Tauranga Citizens Club for the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Photo/George Novak

Bets were placed and fingers were crossed at bars and clubs around Tauranga for the biggest day in horse racing - the Melbourne Cup.

At the Tauranga Citizens Club, hundreds of people were revelling in the festive atmosphere.

Club president Stephen (Chook) Hawkings said he thought there was about 300 to 400 people crowded into the club to catch the action and maybe win a few bucks.

"It's the biggest day of the year for us," he said.

He made plenty of bets on favourites and outsiders - all up about $400.

"Everyone goes for it, it's only once a year. It's the day they say stops a nation - but it stops two, including New Zealand."

He said he loved the hype and the big crowd the Melbourne Cup attracted and being a horse owner himself, the Cup was the ultimate goal.

Women at the club were in their finest fancy hats and men were in collared shirts.

When race was run there was a mixture of smiling and cheering and swearing from punters at the club.

Pam Connor, of Parkvale, was hoping to win big again - last year she got lucky, picked the winner and won $4200.

"That's why I'm back again this year," she said, sitting at a corporate table with a group of friends.

"It's only one day a year so why not?"

Ms Connor almost got lucky again- her chosen horse Heartbreak City narrowly lost to Almandin.

Finishing order:
Almandin
Heartbreak City
Hartnell