Red vodkas toasted for Harry Schwenke

By Jordan Gerrans

At just 20 years of age, Toowoomba’s Harry Schwenke admits becoming a thoroughbred trainer came to him much earlier in his life than he ever could have expected.

In recent weeks, passionate horseman Schwenke has been campaigning a galloper named Red Vodka to bush tracks around the Sunshine State. 

Like Schwenke, Red Vodka probably did not think he would be at the races competing through the middle stages of 2025. 

After five starts with leading Clifford Park trainer Kevin Kemp in 2021 and 2022, the gelding was retired for a little over two years.  

He was last at the races in December of 2022 before out-of-the-blue reappearing under the fledgling Schwenke banner in April of this year. 

While they are an unlikely team, Schwenke and his now six-year-old gelding combined to land the first victories of their respective careers on the non-TAB program from Goondiwindi on Saturday afternoon. 

“The horse has been a lot of work,” Schwenke said about his journey with the galloper.

Red Vodka’s winning performance at Goondiwindi over 1200 metres in the QTIS Maiden Plate was his fourth run for Schwenke.

Originally hailing from Texas, Schwenke has grown up around the industry with his father Lee previously a trainer while another family member, Garry Schwenke, also had a few starters on Saturday’s card from Goondiwindi.

The father-and-son team of Lee and Harry Schwenke relocated from Texas to Toowoomba during Harry’s teenage years to further their knowledge in the racing game by working for bigger stables out of Clifford Park. 

That was where the younger Schwenke sparked his desire to make it in the industry as a trainer. 

Now with his maiden victory on his resume, the enthusiastic youngster is hopeful of turning his training passion into a full-time career in the coming years. 

“We moved here as he always wanted to work for a bigger stable and see what it was like,” he said.

“We started with Lindsay Hatch and did a bit there, before going on to other stables. I really got into it from there and then went full-time into it once I finished school.

“It is good, I have always enjoyed being around the horses – I love it.

“It is always something I thought I would do but maybe not this early in life, but stuff happens quickly.

"I really never thought I would be training this young in my life."

Lee trained up until the 2010-11 campaign and prepared a couple of handy gallopers over his years including Sir Pak – who won 12 races – and Sequalo Princess.

Lee still gives his son a hand with his growing team as do a few of his close mates.

The stable has seven boxes not far from Clifford Park on the Darling Downs.

The younger Schwenke started his training journey earlier this year with Beirut Miss who has had three starts without much luck. 

He added Red Vodka to his team by complete chance. 

“I was speaking to Ivan Price – who owns a few good horses – and I am good mates with his son when we were having a few drinks,” he recalls. 

“Ivan asked me what I wanted to do with my life and I said I wouldn’t mind training a racehorse or two.

“He told me he had a horse for me and it took two or three weeks, but Red Vodka turned up at my place. He was retired at the time and we went from there.

“There was never anything wrong with the horse before he retired but they were just focusing on the younger horses and didn’t have much time for hm.”

Price raced Red Vodka’s mother Windel Tori who won five races.

With Chris Taylor in the saddle, Red Vodka was slow away in the opening stages on Saturday and was a clear last. 

Experienced hoop Taylor made a decisive move approaching the home turn to go right around the field.

Red Vodka responded to his urgings and scored by more than a length as he swooped down the outside of the field.

“The feeling is unbelievable,” Schwenke said of training his maiden victory.

“I am still smiling, to be fair.

“I had a couple of owners there on Saturday, a few of my good mates, my old schoolteachers, my parents and a few others – they are all involved.

“I was quietly confident the horse would go well on Saturday. He is the quietest horse I have got, until you put a saddle on his back.

“He has had three preparations in the last 15 months with me, but I am glad we got there.”

Schwenke was busy searching for Red Vodka’s next assignment on Monday morning. 

Another from his growing team – Tortilla – was set to trial at Clifford Park on Monday, as well.