Margaret makes it 50 in a row
Margaret Connolly followed love to Bunbury 50 years ago and has been attending the South West's biggest race day every year since.
Today's XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup will be Mrs Connolly's 50th consecutive Cup appearance.
Mrs Connolly said in that time she had not backed too many winners but it was not just about the horses.
"When you come for fashion and a bit of a drink, you don't concentrate too much on the bets," she said.
The 71-year-old race-goer has made nearly every outfit she has ever worn to the annual race day.
"Years ago I used to make my own hats too but now I just buy a fascinator and design my outfit around that," Mrs Connolly said.
"Even when I was pregnant, I just made an outfit to suit and I was here."
Her designs have even earned her recognition at Fashions on the Field on numerous occasions and Best Dressed at the Ascot Races one year.
The Cup is so much about fashion for Mrs Connolly that she almost did not make it one year because of a wardrobe mishap.
"I just didn't get my own outfit finished before the day and I cried and cried and thought, 'I can't go'," she said.
"But I just wore another outfit and had a wonderful day."
While she used to go every year with her husband, Mrs Connolly said she now made it a "day with the girls".
"It's really about fun with the girls and the younger people like my daughter," she said.
Mrs Connolly said as she grew older she took more interest in the racing.
"I've learnt a bit about horses and I now quite like a little bet, although I'm still not winning much," she said.
She said she had nothing but good memories from her days at the Bunbury Cup and hoped to make more this year.
"I'm looking forward to just having a really lovely day and just mixing with people I know because I might not make another one," she said.
Mrs Connolly said of all the fun she had over the years, she had never lost her pride.
"I've never fallen on the ground, never taken my shoes off, I'm too proud and the hat stays on too," she said.
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