Punters could have been excused for thinking it was just another day at the office for Jason Fleming, resplendent as he was in sartorial elegance.
It certainly was for the outgoing HB racing general manager - but Thursday's meeting was also his last before he assumes the mantle of InfinityFoundation chief executive officer from next month.
Fleming had caught some fine homegrown performances, especially from John Bary, "so it's a great last race day to be here". "It's been a great privilege being part of the team here so you do look back and sort of reflect on the six years, which is a long part of my life because I'm only 41."
Fleming will miss the environment and plotting his days around horses, his passion, "but I'm going on to new challenges so it's a good feeling".
He thanked Bay stakeholders for contributing to what is a "great industry in the region".
"There's been a lot achieved through that period and there's a lot more to come," he said.
Bary said from a trainer's perspective Fleming was prodigious. "He was very supportive of Hawke's Bay trainers and did a fantastic job, especially with jump-outs," the Hastings trainer said.
