It might not completely stop the nation but it was the race that captivated more than 5500 punters who  poured into Kembla Grange for Melbourne Cup Day.

Kembla Grange CEO Peter De Vries said crowds returned year after year to attend the race day despite the Melbourne Cup being over 800 kilometres away.

‘‘It doesn’t matter where you are, it’s an Australian tradition whether you’re here or at the RSL or at Flemington racecourse,’’ he said.

Mr De Vries said he enjoyed the cultural elements of the Cup.

‘‘It’s enjoyable to have young ladies dress up because it means young men are following behind in their best too.’’

For Wollongong local Nathan Looney, the races presented a chance to chase more then winning bets.

‘‘I’m trying my luck with both the ladies and horses but I’m currently zero and zero on both fronts,’’ he said early in the day.

Later, he managed to place a winning trifecta on the Cup,  netting him enough money to feel better about going home alone.

Bookmaker Phillip Maher said he and his colleagues at Kembla Grange were the losers of the day after being confined to the undercover area behind the stands.

‘‘We need to be set up out on the lawn where the nucleus of the crowd is,’’ he said.

‘‘All that’s in here is men drinking beer, we freeze in winter and boil in summer and it’s a problem for us every year.’’

Women’s headwear became casualties to strong winds with  fascinators blowing along the members stand like jewelled tumbleweed.

Race day trends this year  for men deviated from the standard suit and tie.

Not since the last Scouting Jamboree have dress shorts been so over-represented in fashion choices.

Brad Ryan bought his controversial two-piece as a testament to form and function.

‘‘It’s business on top and party on the bottom,’’ he said.

Kembla Grange is one of the few racing venues that allow dress shorts in the members stand and in 2014 it seemed quite a few punters took advantage of the dress code. 

Mercury photographers Kirk Gilmour, Andy Zakeli and Sylvia Liber were at Kembla Grange, the Harbourfront Restaurant, Towradgi Beach Hotel, City Beach Function Centre, Dapto Leagues Club and the Lagoon Restaurant.