Anita McLaren put on her trainers, picked up her hockey stick and dribbled around the eager young crowd on Saturday.
Gold medallist Hamish Bond joined the Black Stick as guests of honour at this year's Makfi Challenge Stakes Daffodil Raceday.
Hawke's Bay Racing CEO Andrew Castles said it was great to have the Olympians there in the flesh after such a short turnaround from Rio.
"The pair were involved in all aspects of the day from collecting money for the Hawke's Bay Cancer Society to challenging the children at rowing and hockey."
They mingled and mixed with the crowd, taking photos and signing autographs, before speaking at the Cancer Society function where they shared their experiences from Rio.