Few things in sport are unique but the White Turf meeting is a confident inclusion. On Sunday, beneath blue skies and snow-covered mountains, the first of three racedays captivated its usual 10,000-strong crowd on the frozen lake of St Moritz.
Those present for the first time were predictably open-mouthed at the skikjoring race. Eleven horse-drawn skiers set out but only five completed - one of those tangled behind two horses after a messy pile-up on the home turn.
Among the sunkissed throng was Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham. He felt that this year might be too soon for such a heat at the Festival, even if artificial snow could be laid on the Cotswold track in time.
British runners featured in the three regulation Flat races - if galloping on packed snow can ever be thought mere regulation - but none finished closer than fourth.
This meeting is as hard for the Brits to crack as the Melbourne Cup but, such is its breathtaking appeal, there will always be new challengers.