After weeks of anticipation, rigorous training and restrictive diets, the other race that stopped the nation was over in the blink of an eye.
The Berry Springs Tavern's inaugural saltwater croc races were "poetry in motion", rhapsodised owner Ian Sloan, as he declared the "world's first croc races" a roaring success.
Too bad the field ran so lightning fast that there was confusion over which juvenile croc took out the cup.
Di Croco, Just Faking It and Shags each won one of the three races and were named equal overall winners.
"It was quick! It was like, 'Who won?'" said Shags backer Fiona Maxwell.
Meanwhile, six dejected backers of Crock of Shit nursed their disappointment with their favourite's performance.
"We were hoping he'd get off the start line," said one.
"He'll grow into a great handbag," said another.
"He'll come good as a three-year-old," added a third.
Punters at Berry Springs, 45 kilometres south of Darwin, could not bet on the crocodiles but they could bid on them at auction, with the prize money being split 50-50 between the winning backers and the Territory Wildlife Park, which supplied the yellow-nosed turtles for the warm-up races.
The races, which were the brainchild of an evening spent drinking beer and admiring the crocodile mounted on the tavern's roof, will soon come to dominate Australian animal sporting events, said Mr Sloan, tongue firmly in cheek.
"It's only a matter of time before the Melbourne Cup is scrapped and they just have croc racing at Berry Springs," he told reporters.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there's a public holiday in the next couple of years. I will talk to (Chief Minister) Adam Giles about that the next time I see him; it's only fair."
Mr Sloan was very clear on what set his race apart from the action at Flemington Racecourse.
"Crocodiles, bit more interesting than horses; horses are probably a bit overrated," he said.
"They're less temperamental, cheaper."
His hope is to see metre-long crocodiles race next year.
And while none of the crocodiles or turtles were harmed or stressed during the races, he could not say the same for the final race of cane toads.
"When we're finished with them, we'll probably stick them in the freezer - so not so good news for the cane toads," Mr Sloan said.
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