PATRIOTIC punters showed up in droves to celebrate Australia Day in style under cloudy skies at Aquis Beaudesert race track.
Locals and visitors took the opportunity to get dressed up, with more than a few proudly sporting the colours of the Australian flag.
Horse racing enthusiasts from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and further afield took the opportunity to celebrate Australia's national day with a flutter on the horses, a glass of bubbly and the excitement of being trackside.
The first 400 people through the gates after they opened at 11am were rewarded with ice cold XXXX beer and there was no entry fee charged for those who arrived before 12.20pm with a free sausage sizzle for early birds as well.
The first race was called at 12.40pm with action on the track continuing until the 10th race later in the afternoon.
Gold Coast Turf Club racing manager Ian Brown said no Beaudesert trainer won any races on the day but Gold Coast trainers won three and Brisbane trainer Desleigh Forster having winning horses in races two and three with Zamzara ridden by Mark Du Plessis and Coastal Prince ridden by Andrew Mallyon.
Mark du Plessis also rode the Forster-trained two-year-old filly Soul Dancer to claim second place in the first race behind two-year-old colt Statesville ridden by Andrew Mallyon for Aquis Gold Coast trainer Kacy Fogden.
Australia Day did prove lucky for Canungra jockey Laura Cheshire who managed to bounce back from injury to ride Warwick trainer Scott Barker's six-year-old mare Your Option to victory in race six.
"I was out on injury for six weeks prior to Christmas with shoulder and wrist injuries after an accident at the racetrack," she said. "This is my first win since coming back to riding on Boxing Day.
"I have ridden this mare a lot but I've only ever managed to come second on her before now.
"I rode the winner out there at Beaudesert last year, I think that was Australia Day too."
The next race meetings at Beaudesert Racecourse are on Saturday, February 8, Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 27.