After 766 races and 82 meetings, there is just one more 11-race card to go. Come 6pm on Sunday, time will be called on the 2014-15 season, and Hong Kong racing will enter its annual state of hibernation, not to emerge until the first weekend in September.
There are still some loose ends to be tied in the next few days: the critical licensing committee meeting on Friday, the champion awards that night, the crowning of Joao Moreira as champion jockey and John Moore as champion trainer on Sunday, the inevitable long list of retirements on Monday and Tuesday, and of course, the SCMP’s season review.
Ahead of our review, though, we thought we'd bring the season to a close on The Griffin by looking at some of the highlights in pictures. These aren't all the biggest moments, far from it, but they are some of the best pictures. Unless stated otherwise, all pictures are from the hardest-working photographer in the business, the Post's Kenneth Chan.
Arguably the most historic moment of the season came within the first four weeks, when Rich Tapestry beat American sprinters on their home turf (or, shall we say, dirt). Sadly, Michael Chang Chun-wai's galloper finished last in his main target, the Breeders' Cup Sprint. (Photo: AP)
History was also made in Singapore when Aerovelocity became the first Hong Kong horse to win three Group One races in three different countries in the one season.
But it wasn't all joy for Hong Kong horses abroad. A large Hong Kong contingent travelled to Dubai, led by Centenary Sprint Cup winner Peniaphobia (pictured), but while there were a number of placings there were no successes.
As for Able Friend, there were some great photo opportunities in his picturesque Newmarket surroundings but he failed to take his form to Royal Ascot. (Photo: Liesl King)
It was still a season of success for Able Friend, though, highlighted by his Hong Kong Mile triumph. Joao Moreira declared Able Friend "the best horse I have ridden".
And for owner Dr Cornel Li Fook-kwan, Able Friend and Moreira have taken him on the ride of a lifetime.
For Moreira, the Magic Man, it has been a season beyond expectations, with 141 winners as of the penultimate meeting. He has clearly surpassed Douglas Whyte's previous record of 114 wins, breaking the record on David Hall-trained Penang Hall. He was treated like a demigod post-race.
It hasn't been all rosy for Moreira though, who was forced to stand down after one ride on May 27. He rode through the pain barrier to steer Sure Peace to a two-and-three-quarter length success.
Main rival Zac Purton had health problems of his own earlier in the season, collapsing after riding Yeung Sing into seventh at Sha Tin on February 1.
There was concern when Purton returned covered in blood after riding Military Attack to victory in the Sha Tin Trophy, but the blood belonged to Dibayani. Chang-trained Dibayani was retired from Hong Kong and is now in training with David Hayes and Tom Dabernig in Australia, with the Caulfield Cup a likely aim.
It was happier times for Purton when he won on Starting Over at Happy Valley for owner Vincent Sum Wing-sung in the pouring rain. Who cares about a little mud when you've just had a winner?
Plenty of races in May were rain-affected, including the straight race won by Good Luck Boy, when a deluge struck just as the field were sent on their way.
There was rain of a different kind at the presentation for the Hong Kong Jockey Club 130th Anniversary Cup in January. Protesters threw six eggs at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying post-race and, while none of them struck their target, they were quickly arrested and evicted. There were also plenty of heckling from the crowd.
As always, there were plenty of foreign raiders throughout the year. Hong Kong Mile third Grand Prix Boss was the eye-catcher at trackwork during international week with his colour-coordinated gear.
In April, there was a large international presence in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup - previous visitors Red Cadeaux and Criterion were joined by French galloper Smoking Sun, who trails them here.
The largest crowd came at the Chinese New Year meeting, when nearly 92,000 people flocked to Sha Tin to ring in the Year of the Goat.
Plenty were there just to get lai see from the Jockey Club, handed out by chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
Hong Kong's top four jockeys ring in the new year, a rare shot of the big four - Moreira, Purton, Brett Prebble and Douglas Whyte - in the one picture.
As for the battle for leading trainer, in the end it came down to Moore and John Size. They already had one clash this season, though, when they were the only two trainers to saddle up horses in the Champions Mile, including the top two chances - Moore with Able Friend, Size with Luger.
In the end, it is Moore who will win his seventh trainers' championship, and there were wild scenes after he all but confirmed the title with Happy Meteor on Wednesday night.
After an intense 2014-15, what does the 2015-16 season have in store?
For now, there’s still one final chapter of this season to write. And then a well-deserved and much-anticipated break awaits one and all.
