Winning day all round
The Hastings Racecourse turned into a sea of hats, horses and heels on Saturday as crowds gathered for the annual Spring Classic premier race day in Hastings.
Punters could be seen both celebrating and commiserating over the course of the day's racing, while others took more interest in the Fashion in the Field competition or the bar.
Hawke's Bay Racing general manager Jason Fleming said it had been a "fantastic" day.
"It was a little bit of a blustery day all round, but it blew in a good atmosphere," he said.
"It was fantastic racing and a well-behaved crowd."
He estimated there were about 5000 people in attendance.
"That's still a fair crowd. It's an improvement on last year so again, it's all positive."
The annual NZ Punter of the Year competition also took place, with a syndicate from Wellington taking the title and the $50,000 top prize.
Mr Fleming was also impressed with the style on display in the Fashion in the Field, with some "really elegant" women. The winner of the competition received automatic entry to the regional finals at Ellerslie, where Hawke's Bay contestants traditionally do well.
