Volunteers were swamped when up to 10,000 people gathered at Towac Park on Easter Sunday, 7000 more than were estimated. 

Organisers had originally set a target to raise $30,000, and Camp Quality’s Graeme Eggleston said he was blown away by the Orange community’s support of the event.

“It’s a bit novel, it’s something to do on Easter Sunday,” Mr Eggleston said of the races’ unprecedented popularity.

“Some people who know the grounds quite well said it was the biggest crowd they’d seen at Towac.”

He said organisers will now sit down and work out how to improve the event for next year.

“We will look at what goes with underestimating crowds, like stalls running out of food, how much money you need in cash floats,” he said.

“We had no real idea of how many people would turn up, so now we’ve got a base to work from.”

The money raised from the event will go towards the $200,000 needed each year to support 63 families in the Central West that access services provided by the cancer charity.

Racing Orange was crucial in the success of the day, donating the use of Towac Park and had 15 members who volunteered their time to help run the day.

Racing Orange chairwoman Ellie Brown said the club was keen to see the event continue in the future.

“It’s part of our social fabric to support community events like this,” Ms Brown said.

“(Towac Park) is not just there for horse racing meets, it’s for the whole community to use.”

alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au