FASHION, fun and fabulous fillies were in evidence at the Beaudesert Racecourse Saturday as Aquis and Bendigo Bank partnered to host the 2019 Derby Day races.
Crowds turned up in all their finery to take part in fashions on the field, enjoy a country lunch trackside and have a flutter on the horses, many of which were trained locally.
A downpour right before the judging of fashions on the field did not even put a dampener on enthusiasm, with one local expressing his joy by dancing in the rain.
Gold Coast based Aquis executive Peter Ward was at the race track in Beaudesert after he and his wife Di decided to spend Derby Day in Queensland for the first time in a couple of decades.
"The great thing about Beaudesert for us is that we have been able to work with the local committee and staff to help support and create ongoing success at Beaudesert race track," he said.
"Our part has been to ensure time and energy has been invested to support local trainers and local stakeholders here.
"Derby Day in particular has provided an atmosphere reflecting on the Melbourne Spring carnival with a country lunch and fashions on the field, which has been well supported.
"For the past 22 years we have spent Derby Day in Melbourne but I have had more fun at Beaudesert today than I ever had in Melbourne."
Local trainers were well represented with jockey Andrew Spinks riding to glory on Diane Murphy's Cook it Charlie in race one and backing it up with a second win on Doug Duryea's Sky One in race six.
Brooke Ainsworth rode to first place in race three on Greg Cornish's Katarina.
Ben Ahrens, Rob Lyford and Kelvin Hickmott were also among the local trainers in attendance.
The prize for best dressed woman was won by Melody Matheson from Brisbane, with Colleen Moloney from Gleneagle runner up.
Also read: Racing returns to Aquis Beaudesert
The best dressed man was Beaudesert's Shannon Bunn, with Ray Creighton in second place.
Fashions on the field concluded with Jane and Brian Parker from Beaudesert taking the couples prize followed by fellow locals Wendy and Eric Nugent.
