The country version of Winx was a cult hero on the regional QLD circuit, winning 21 straight

Prior to the record-breaking deeds of the brilliant mares Black Caviar and Winx, a nine-year-old equine star from a rural background garnered significant public attention by achieving an impressive 21 consecutive race victories. The colourful, cult hero Picnic In The Park is one of the greatest stories in Queensland racing history. A horse that shone bright in the mid-1980s, albeit on small country circuits. However, the gelding, Picnic In The Park accomplished a rare feat that the renowned, superstar mares never achieved. A well-bred and well-related galloper, by Lunchtime from the Todman mare Tod Lass, Picnic in the Park was obtained from Sydney by trainer Malcolm Raabe from Murgon after he'd had only a few starts and consistently underperformed.

The crowds, the expectation, the cheering, the pre-race nerves and post race relief - the Raabe's saw it all as their bush flyer assembled a 21-race winning streak in ultra-quick time, becoming a cult figure along the way.

The Raabee's criss-crossed the state in 1984-85 to give Queensland racing one of its most enchanting stories. Picnic In The Park was a micro-version of the Winx story. From Randwick, Eagle Farm to Flemington and Moonee Valley, Winx was a big city girl, while Picnic travelled more like a country covers band, from Thangool to Esk, Wondai, Nanango, Townsville, Gold Coast and Bundamba.

Prizemoney-wise, Winx’s $13,777,925 at 21 wins made Picnic’s $32,580 career earnings, seem more like money spent at Group one victory party. While Winx had Hugh Bowman aboard, Picnic had the affable, little-known Chris Smith of Muttaburra, 100km outside Longreach: population 100. But in a way this made it such a delightful tale. Once at Wondai, Picnic lugged a massive 67kg to victory. He also started at 80/1 in one of his wins at Townsville and was just nudged out of being the Queensland Horse of the Year by one point.

No matter what Winx achieved and her amazing feats on the turf, there is one thing that Picnic did that she never did - win two races in one day, like he did at the Gold Coast on November 10, 1984. Picnic In The Park was the last horse in Queensland to win two races in the one day when he cantered home twice, with Raabe taking 6-4 for the double. Raabe said the horse was more tired from the float trip than winning two races in four hours. He won the first race on the card by three lengths hard-held and the second race he won by six lengths in driving rain. The horse he beat won in Sydney two races later. The race commentator is heard to say: "this is fair dinkum champion" as the horse scooted away to the line in last.

Raabe purchased Picnic In The Park from Sydney from an Inglis dispersal sale after he had three starts. He paid $5000, but 40 years ago that probably equates to about $35,000. He had him picked out of a catalogue of hundreds of horses from bloodstock sales catalogue. The horse had bad feet and when he got home he could barely walk. Raabe observed the presence of "shelly" feet and expressed confidence in his ability to provide equine footwear without causing harm, drawing upon his extensive experience as a farrier. When he returned to his Murgon property after the sale, Raabe was contacted by a well-known Sydney jockey who told him the horse was a "bleeder" and could collapse and kill a jockey. But he changed it's diet and suddenly turned a cheap cast-off into a four-legged flying machine. When Picnic finally returned to the track he won his first 15 races in 13 weeks and had six weeks off. Some of the crowds at those country places were the biggest they have ever seen as he captivated rural racing fans.

The saddest day was the final race at Rockhampton when, just as a southern trainer had slapped a $275,000 offer on the table for a 70 per cent share, the horse broke its leg. Malcolm had experienced numerous farm accidents resulting in physical injuries, but the Raabes had never witnessed him shed tears until that particular day. Picnic was instantly retired but the Raabes refused to listen to advice to put him down and painstakingly nursed him back to full health before he died on their property at the age of 19. The horse was never extended during his 21 wins, barely even nudged with the whip and never even made a trip to Brisbane, but that didn't matter one bit. He may have been a small town boy, but Picnic was a big time hero to Malcolm. So the eternal question remains: How good was he? His son believed his father always had the idea he was going to win the Stradbroke, but he broke down just before the carnival. I guess we'll never know. He now ranks 4th in Australasia and 12th in the world for most consecutive wins by a thoroughbred racehorse.

Just for the record, Picnic In The Park won 4 races at the GOLD COAST, 3 at NANANGO, 2 each at WONDAI, GAYNDAH, ESK, ROCKHAMPTON, McKAY and one each at GYMPIE, IPSWICH, THANGOOL and TOWNSVILLE.