Always a highlight of the regional racing calendar, the 38th running of the 1400-metre event will again see the jewel in the Hilltops region crown attract racegoers from all points of the compass.

Last year’s winner The Real McCoy, ridden by Ricky Blewitt, defeated Kinda Tangy for professional rider Billy Owen with Black Fusion filling the minor placing for former local and now highly regarded Wagga trainer Scott Spackman and jockey Toby Lake.

The Harden Picnics were first held in their current format way bay in 1980 when the unusually named Bobby Bobtail won the race. Since then there as been only one horse won the race twice, that being Chance Affair in 1995/1996.

There has been some major improvements to the course and with more funding hopefully just around the corner, the future certainly looks bright for the small but hard working committee.