But after last year's race meeting was transferred to Echuca, it feels like forever since the Gunbower Gold Cup was run at its home track.
The meeting had to be transferred the day before the running of the cup after stewards identified several sections of turf that had failed to dry sufficiently from the standard pre-meeting flood irrigation.
Since that fateful day last year, Gunbower Racing Club president Mick Farrant has heard it all.
“I don't think there is a single sprinkler joke I haven't heard in the past 12 months,” he said with a laugh.
It is easier for Farrant and the other volunteers at Gunbower Racing Club to have a laugh at the circumstances of last year, with this year's running of the cup just days away.
And their mood is buoyed by the fact the cancellation of last year's meet appears to have had no impact on crowd numbers.
“On Wednesday we met the booking numbers for last year,” he said.
“We had our biggest numbers ever a year ago and I thought we would cop a bit of a clip after what happened in terms of our bookings. Thankfully, people want to be out here and be a part of the race meeting.”
The track has also undergone a complete refurbishment after it was ruled the track would not be able to be brought back to racing condition after the watering fiasco.
Though Farrant said it simply brought an inevitable upgrade forward.
“We knew we would have to redo the track in the next few years,” he said.
“We always want the track to be in the best possible condition, so we are constantly monitoring its condition.
“We were of the opinion that the track would need to be renovated in the next few years, so with the issues last year we made the decision to bring that forward and complete in time for this year's cup.”
With the renovation complete, Farrant said the track was looking near perfect.
“We irrigated on Wednesday (last week), which will be our last watering before the meeting,” he said.
“We've put a new rail in for the inside, which was a big investment, the track is looking near perfect now. All we can hope for is a 26 to 28 degree day on Saturday for the event itself.”
Farrant said club members were just happy for racing to return.
“I was pretty miserable for two months after last year,” he said.
“When you do things in business and get it wrong, it's on you and it's for you. But when it's for the community, you feel a lot worse. It's a lot harder.
“All our community is voluntary, when they all work so hard and get nothing out of it, it really is a gutting feeling.
“I think this year we are all very cautious, but everyone is back on deck, sponsors have stuck with us, which means a great deal, and we are now all looking forward to a fantastic day of racing.”
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