29 March 2023 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY
IT’S safe to say Aaron Williams has learned his trade from the greats of harness racing.
And these days the 37-year-old Bathurst horseman can look back and appreciates what the sport has given him over so many years.
Born into the game, Williams has been around horses for as long he can remember with his parents Garry and Judy always with a team of racehorses in their care.
Like most ‘kids’ of harness racing participants, Williams was hooked at early age and spent most weekends going to the races and when he was old enough, taking a more hands-on approach, progressively working his way through to obtaining a license to drive in registered races.
After a stint with the legendary Turnbull family at The Lagoon near Bathurst in the early 2000s , Williams arrived on the Gold Coast during the golden era of the McCarthy family in Queensland.
In his time there, Williams was an integral part of their operation, travelling horses all over Australasia to race in some the world’s biggest races, meeting some of the games biggest names and learning valuable lessons along the way.
In more recent years, Williams has worked under a few other prominent stables including David Aiken in Shepparton and, up until November, with his good mate Mat Rue in Bathurst.
“The game has taken me on a great ride so far,” said Williams.
“I have met and learned off some of the greats of the game.
“I have also got to work with some of the best horses Australia has seen and I would not change that for a thing.”
Now set up out of his own establishment beside Bathurst Showgrounds, Williams is looking to write his own chapter in the book as a trainer and an educator of young horses by doing a lot of breaking-in and pre-training for clients.
“I felt the time was right to move out on my own in November,” he said.
“We have anywhere up to 18 horses at one time in the barn, whether that be horses racing, breaking-in or pre-training – and that is a comfortable number.
“I am really content with the way things are going and have some really good people that back and support me.”
Tonight, at Bathurst’s eight race card, Williams will line up consistent mare Dixiedolittle in Race 3.
Coming off a last-start win at this track and distance, Williams believes his mare is a great each-way hope from gate four.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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