Local legendary race horse trainer extraordinaire, Chris “Fonz” Heywood from Gloaming Racing stables will be notching up a new page in the history books this year with a record number of horses entered in the Harden Picnic Races, 9 in total.

“So far it’s the most horses I have ever had in the picnics, and touch wood all goes well between now and race day”, Fonz said.

On Tuesday this week, Fonz took a number of horses entered in the picnics for some gentle exercise at Lake Rusty, a large dam at Laughing Cow Dairy.

Each horse had around a minute and a half in the water before being loaded back on the truck refreshed.

The swim session is part of the preparation for the races every year, “It gives the horses a good work-out and it’s something different from all the track work”, Fonz said.

Two of the horses that took the plunge on Tuesday where Aurville and Spirited Choice, both previous winners of the Harden Picnics Races with Spirited Choice (owned by Robyn Smith) taking home the Cup last year.

“Both are in fine form so it should be an interesting race”, Fonz said.

Other horses under his charge include; You Ess Odyssey, Vepete, Shesofine, Whistling Brooke, Magic Bronze, Azarax and Snow Dream and there is at least one Gloaming Racing Stables entrant in each race for the day. Nine horses in 6 races, not bad odds for a good day at the track for Fonz and his team.