Thousands turn out for biggest racing event in the Bay

Savvy Coup and Jocky Chris Johnson, race to victory at the Livamol Classic. Photo / Duncan Brown

Fascinators were out in full force on Saturday, with the Livamol Classic bringing people from across the country to Hawke's Bay.

It is the biggest event in the calendar for Hawke's Bay Racing, and CEO Andrew Castles said there were between 6500 and 7000 people at the event.

"The atmosphere was fantastic," he said.

"Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves."

He wanted to compliment everyone who was there on the day.

"The behaviour [of the crowd], talking to the authorities on the day, they were very happy with the way people enjoyed themselves and embraced the day."

Of course a day at the races wouldn't be complete without Fashion in the Field.

The winner of the HelloWorld Waipukurau and Hawaiian Airlines overall winner for Fashion in the Field was Olivia Moor, from Auckland, dressed in pink plaid with a fascinator of white and rose pink flowers.

Moor also won the Unio Goldsmith Classic Ladies Race Wear and the Spex Eyewear Headwear.

Other winners were Fergus Fauvel for Thomson's Suits Classic Men's Race Wear, Paula Gallagher for the Vivo Hair and Beauty Vintage race Wear and Maria Bus for the Diahann Boutique Avant Garde/Young Designer.

Castles said the Livamol Classic is a fantastic event for Hawke's Bay.

"It's a really big event for Hawke's Bay and we're just proud to be able to put it together.

"That's the great thing for Hawke's Bay, it brings people from all around New Zealand to the Bay for the weekend."

The favourite, Savvy Coup, took out the race on the day, and will now head to Melbourne to race in both the Cox Plate and the Matriarch Stakes, the latter of which is on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Castles said it was great to see Savvy Coup heading off the Melbourne after winning Livamol.

"That's great for our race, that she's going to head across and run in the Cox Plate."

The Cox Plate will see Savvy Coup race against Winx, commonly known as Wonder Mare Winx, currently the top ranked filly or mare in the world.

Winning the Livamol Classic was extra special for her trainer, Michael Pitman, who today is having surgery to remove his bowel cancer.

"In horse racing terms I've jumped one hurdle, I've got another four or five to go."

He's already gone through 28 days of chemotherapy and 28 days of radiation, and today he is heading into hospital in Christchurch for surgery to remove the cancer.

"It was pretty emotional yesterday, obviously on a number of fronts," Pitman said, speaking the day after the big race.

As a family, they have trained over 1700 winners, making them third on the all-time list of New Zealand racing.

He wanted to thank the entire racing community for supporting him.

"I just want to thank the whole racing community who have been so good to me when I've needed it."