The trip from May 4-9 came under scrutiny from Kiwi trainers who are planning disruptive action nationwide after a vote of no confidence in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR).
The trainers questioned the value of the conference, which NZTR chief executive Greg Purcell and the governing body's directors, Matthew Goodson, Ben Nettleton and Greg McCarthy, attended.
The industry also sent Julie Walker (NZ Stud Book), Andrew Birch (NZ Thoroughbred Marketing) and club officials Carey Hobbs (Taranaki), Tim Mills and Jeff McCall (Canterbury Jockey Club), Greg Mitchell (Counties) and Alicia Moroney (Waikato ambassador).
However, Fleming says the seminars were "very thought provoking".
"We had the best racing minds of the world there. They [critics] are lacking [in judgment] who funded the trip."
The detractors, he believes, are ill informed because the NZTR only paid for his conference fees while the Bay board, like other clubs did for their official delegates, picked up the tab for other expenses such as travel and accommodation.
To be players in a vital part of the industry, Fleming feels, it's imperative for the Kiwi industry to be investing in such exercises if they are to remain viable.
"As we face the challenges and competition from other leisure entertainment industries, it is important for the industry's leaders and stakeholders to expand and strengthen the co-operation between different racing jurisdictions - after all, we live in a global age."
To put the trip in perspective, he emphasises Australia sent 108 delegates compared with New Zealand's dozen, although he accepts it is tough times.
"The opportunity to critique and explore the best practices in the industry on a global scale is firstly a privilege but, secondly, an important mechanism to raise the bar for our local jurisdiction."
Fleming says the challenges facing all racing locations is the ability to effectively build a rapport with racegoers in competing for entertainment revenue.
That will provide the platform to sustain industry to a suitable scale which supports employment, generates economic activity and revenue for the government.
"The Hong Kong customer experience is just enormous ... we will battle to replicate that wholeheartedly in New Zealand."
Finding a common denominator between a healthy industry and society that benefits both parties is the ultimate challenge for the racing administrators.
At a people level that boils down in New Zealand to breaking the divide that exists between customers and their expectations of a memorable experience.
"We must do better in New Zealand at servicing the customers' wants - after all the discretionary aspect of this investment has so much competition. It is common to see innovation and world-leading practices across many industries here - pound for pound we outbox in this regard - yet wagering in New Zealand has remained static in respect of its connectivity to customers for too long."
Fleming says in the Bay, for example, there's a need to tailor their offerings for family entertainment to look beyond "the beer-and-pie" culture.
"People are more discerning nowadays."
Conversely the difficulty is "we're not a Pacifica or Craggy Range" that opens throughout the year.
Racing faces competition not only from other codes but shopping and markets on Saturdays.
"We need to step out of our old shadow."
Emulating Hong Kong's technology, such as digital channels, is vital in wagering but so is winning the Government's support.
With relatively similar populations, Hong Kong has two racing venues while here we have 51.
A feasibility study will be presented next month on shifting to the HB Showgrounds to share a compact venue with the A and P Society and Horse of the Year Show.
"We have to smooth edges so there's no major funding bullet but the prospects are very bright to moving," Fleming says.
