HORSE RACING: The sun shone brightly while punters and race-goers gathered in the cool in the confines of Ferguson Park in yesterday's Melbourne Cup meet at the Gladstone Turf Club.

While the main event was down south in Melbourne where temperatures peaked in the mid teens, it was hot going at the port city event.

Five races were jam packed within a two-hour window and Gladstone Turf Club president David Weinert said if common sense prevailed, those who sacrificed a day off work, may no longer feel guilty in the future.

One can only hope.

"It is hard to get people out,” Weinert said of the event on a work day.

"A lot of people do take the day off and one of these days they will do the right thing by us all and make this a public holiday and let's hope that it's the case anyway.

"We had a good crowd booked in with plenty of tables and marquees booked and everyone who came down certainly enjoyed themselves.”

Weinert said aside from Gladstone trainers Denis Schultz and Lee Kiernan involved with seven horses yesterday, other trainers have trekked to Ferguson Park.

And some then rushed for a Rockhampton meet.

"We've had trainers from down south, out from Taroom and trainers from Mackay and Rocky,” Weinert said.

"So they've come from all over the place.

"They have then taken their horses to Rockhampton to race there.”

TOP DAY

R1: Lightning Artst (Schultz) 4th. R2: That Pretty Girl (Scultz) 1st; Varnamo (Kiernan) 2nd. R3: Rowdy Rousey (Kiernan) 1st; Racey Chick (Schultz) 4th. R4: French Flame (Kiernan) 3rd