Spring fashion was the order of the day and there was an abundance of fashionably attired women and men in attendance. 

Racegoers were treated to perfect weather and a day of quality racing. 

The day started with the Topfire Transport Class 1 with Julia Creek trainer Tanya Parry’s What’s Up Sun, with Terry Hill riding, prevailing over the capacity field. 

Parry prepares a large team of horses and has been very successful this season.

The Topfire Concreting Maiden was next and the Bob Burrow prepared Nicabelle with jockey Aaron Spradau on board proved too strong at its first start in the area defeating Coupla Mickies from the Finter/Finlay Camooweal combination.

Marina Sands further enhanced his record with a  three-length win in the Les Huddy Memorial open handicap. 

He has now won five from seven starts on the Buchanan Park circuit and is trained by Denise Ballard and ridden by Dan Ballard. 

With the absence of Le Cap he proved too strong for Garth Tully’s Whispering Death from Bedourie.

The most popular win of the day went to a group of likely lads  from Richmond when Carry Me staged a dominant front running display to win the time honoured Topfire Civil Construction  Lord Derby Handicap. 

Since coming to Richmond the team of trainer Justin Bawden, jockey Shaun Mossman, and owner and mentor Mick Currin have the gelding flying in the best form of his career. 

He has produced three strong wins from as many starts and the boys will need to make room for more trophies to join the one they picked up on Saturday. 

He finished three lengths in front of Bud Smerdon’s Gesticulation with Beau Dash rounding out the placings for Denise Ballard. 

The Topfire Construction Spring Cup rounded out racing for the day. 

The race turned into a two-horse arm wrestle with the Ballard trained Haslington and Fortza from the Inwood stable settling down for a stride for stride battle from the 400 metre mark. 

Aided by a heady Adam Morrison ride from barrier one Fortza led for the majority of the race before Haslington chimed in.

These two then dug in for the length of the straight some eight lengths in advance of the field.

 In the end Haslington and Keith Ballard prevailed by the shortest of margins in a photo finish and a protest.

The crowd stayed on into the evening, which wrapped up another successful day of racing for the hardworking committee.

■PICTURE SPECIAL: P10-11