Miracle Mile
Group I race
LocationMenangle Park Paceway, Sydney
New South Wales, Australia
Inaugurated1967
Race typeStandardbred - Flat racing
WebsiteMenangle Park Paceway
Race information
Distance1609m (1 mile)
Track1400m oval, left-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and up
PurseAUD $1,000,000 (2020)

The Miracle Mile is an Australian harness racing event for Standardbred pacers that was held at Harold Park Racetrack each November until 2008 when the race was switched to Menangle Park Paceway. Prize money has long been among that of Australia's leading harness races and has often included bonuses for speed.

History

The race was held twice in 1986 due to a change of dates from January to November/December, and again in 1996 due to the postponement of the 1995 race caused by track redesign and construction. When the new track opened in 1996 the race distance was changed from one mile (1609m) to 1760m. The 2007 running was abandoned due to the Equine Influenza outbreak. The 2012 race was also delayed until April 2013 due to renovations.

Since 2009, the race has been run at Menangle Park, once again at the metric mile distance. The 1400m track length and improved design allowed for faster times. The first winner at the new circuit was New Zealander Monkey King in a track record time of 1:50.8. In 2010 Victorian pacer Smoken Up, who ran 2nd the previous year, won the race and broke the Australasian record in at time of 1:50.3 (Smoken Up has subsequently lowered that record to 1:48.5 in the Len Smith Mile, also at Menangle).

The fastest ‘miles’ at Harold Park were 1:55.6 by Westburn Grant in 1990, 1:56.1 by Master Mood and 1:56.2 by Chokin. When the race distance became 1760 metres the fastest mile rates were 1:54.2 by Iraklis and 1:54.4 by Christian Cullen.

The Miracle Mile proved elusive to legendary reinsman Brian Hancock who trained one winner in Our Sir Vancelot but due to suspension was unable to drive the three-times Inter Dominion champion on the night of his win in 1997. As set out below there have been several dual winners of the flying mile - notably Smoken Up, Be Good Johnny, Sokyola, Holmes DG, Chokin, Westburn Grant and Village Kid. Champion drivers Lance Justice, Vic Frost and Tony Herlihy have won the race three times each. Kellie Kersley became the first female driver to win the race in 1996. The oldest horse to win the race was 12-year-old Double Agent.

The running of the 2022 Miracle Mile was forced to be delayed for a week from the 5th March to the 12th March after the track suffered damage due to a heavy downpour of rain between the Ainsworth Free For All (Group 1) and the Miracle Mile.

Winners list

Year Horse Driver Time Mile rate
2023Catch A WaveKate Gath1:48.81:48.8
2022 King of Swing Luke McCarthy 1:49.2 1:49.2
2021 King Of Swing Luke McCarthy 1:49.2 1:49.2
2020 King Of Swing Luke McCarthy 1:48.0 1:48.0
2019 Spankem Mark Purdon 1:47.7 1:47.7
2018My Field MarshalAnthony Butt1:46.91:46.9
2017LennythesharkChris Alford1:49.21:49.2
2016Have Faith In MeNatalie Rasmussen1:47.51:47.5
2015Not run due to change in feature race schedule
2014Christen MeDexter Dunn1:49.11:49.1
2013BeautideJames Rattray1:50.21:50.2
2013*Baby BlingMat Rue1:50.51:50.5
2012*Run in 2013 due to renovations
2011Smoken UpLance Justice1:51.81:51.8
2010Smoken UpLance Justice1:50.31:50.3
2009Monkey KingRicky May1:50.81:50.8
2008DivisivePeter Rixon2:06.91:56.0
2007Not held due to Equine Influenza (E.I.)
2006Be Good JohnnyJohn McCarthy2:05.01:54.3
2005Be Good JohnnyJohn McCarthy2:06.71:55.9
2004SokyolaJody Quinlan2:05.71:54.9
2003SokyolaLance Justice2:05.31:54.3
2002Double IdentityHarry Martin2:06.01:55.2
2001Smooth SatinSteve Turnbull2:07.81:56.9
2000Holmes D GBarry Purdon2:05.31:54.6
1999Holmes D GBarry Purdon2:07.31:56.4
1998Christian CullenDanny Campbell2:05.11:54.4
1997Our Sir VancelotHoward James2:06.31:55.5
1996IraklisRicky May2:04.91:54.2
1996*Norms DaughterKellie Kersley2:06.41:55.6
1995*Run in 1996 due to renovations
1994ChokinTony Herlihy1:56.21:56.2
1993ChokinTony Herlihy2:00.02:00.0
1992Franco TigerBrian Gath1:56.71:56.7
1991Christopher VanceTony Herlihy1:57.91:57.9
1990Westburn GrantVic Frost1:55.61:55.6
1989Westburn GrantVic Frost1:57.91:57.9
1988Our MaestroVin Knight1:58.11:58.1
1987Village KidChris Lewis1:57.71:57.7
1986Master MoodKevin Williams1:56.11:56.1
1986Village KidChris Lewis1:56.91:56.9
1985Preux ChevalierBarry Perkins1:56.71:56.7
1984Double AgentJoe Ilsley1:59.61:59.6
1983Popular AlmVin Knight1:57.71:57.7
1982Gundary FlyerMichael Day1:56.91:56.9
1981Friendly FootmanKevin Newman1:59.21:59.2
1980LocarnoRobin Butt2:00.42:00.4
1979The ScotsmanGraeme Sparkes2:00.72:00.7
1978Pure SteelTed Demmler2:00.42:00.4
1977Royal ForceDudley Anderson1:59.51:59.5
1976Paleface AdiosColin Pike1:58.41:58.4
1975Young QuinnCharlie Hunter1:58.81:58.8
1974Hondo GrattanTony Turnbull1:59.01:59.0
1973ReichmanRex Hocking1:58.41:58.4
1972Bay FoyleCharlie Parsons2:00.62:00.6
1971Mount EdenJack Miles1:58.81:58.8
1970Lucky CreedVic Frost1:59.01:59.0
1969AdaptorJack Hargreaves1:59.21:59.2
1968HalwesKevin Newman1:58.61:58.6
1967Robin DundeeRobert Cameron1:59.01:59.0

See also


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