Armidale's racing calendar is in a cloud of doubt but that didn't stop one of the biggest crowds in years from turning up to St Albert's College race day.
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The college's annual race day always draws a crowd but with future race meetings under threat because of the drought, people turned up in droves for the day out.
Armidale Jockey Club's secretary manager Jim Dedes said it was "terrific."
"They always support us very well which is great," he said.
"I think it was even one of our bigger ones.
"We wanted people to come out and get out of the doldrums at home and worrying about the drought and everything.
"They certainly came out. It wasn't only uni students, there were a lot of town people there as well so it was great."
A group of Guyra and Armidale owners celebrated a win early on in the piece.
Angus Watters, Angela Grills, Belinda Lenehan, Chris Bourke, Rob Lenehan and Wendy Jackson cheered home their Grafton-trained Tickets For Youth in the opening race.
The five-year-old gelding streaked home by nearly a length in front of House Wins in the Benchmark 50 over 1900 metres.
Craig Clegg snagged the win with Blinkin Fantastic in the Class 1 1100m handicap for the day's second race.
The Oak Tree Retirement Village St Albert's College Cup saw Brett Cavanough's Couru hold off Scott Thompson's Sir Aussie for the victory.
Moree trainer Peter Sinclair snared first and second in the Class 1 1400m handicap when Master Cramsie and Mister McCrae.
The Armidale Catholic Schools' 1400m maiden plate went the way of an Armidale trainer with William Wain's Spatula edging out Cavanough's Bandjin Rain.
Wain's Keiretsu also managed third in the race.
Tamworth trainer Mel O'Gorman rounded out the day's winners when She Just Said It beat Sue Grills' Crimson Rose to the line in the 1100m Maiden Handicap.
As reported in last Friday's Armidale Express, this Sunday's meet has been transferred to Moree.
Future meets will be assessed by Racing NSW as to whether they go ahead.