- Miracle Mile (race)
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The Miracle Mile is an Australian harness racing event that was held at Harold Park Racetrack each November up until 2008 when the race was switched to Menangle Park. Prizemoney has long been among that of Australia’s leading harness races and has often included bonuses for speed. 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. Monkey King ran 1:50.8 in the inaugural running at Menangle Park in 2009. In 2010 Victorian pacer Smoken Up broke the Australasian record and won the race in 1.50.3. Smoken Up has subsequently lowered that record to 1:48.5 in the Len Smith Mile, also at Menangle.
Race 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 before reverting back to one mile at Menangle Park. The 2007 running was abandoned due to the Equine Influenza outbreak. From 2009, the race moved to Menangle Park with the first winner at the new circuit being the 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. 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 Be Good Johnny, Sokyola, Holmes DG, Chokin, Westburn Grant and Village Kid. Champion drivers Vic Frost and Tony Herlihy have driven the most winners of the race with 3 wins each. Other items of interest include the first female driver to win the race being Kellie Kersley in 1996.
Previous winners
- 1967 - Robin Dundee
- 1968 - Halwes
- 1969 - Adaptor
- 1970 - Lucky Creed
- 1971 - Mount Eden
- 1972 - Bay Foyle
- 1973 - Reichman
- 1974 - Hondo Grattan
- 1975 - Young Quinn
- 1976 - Paleface Adios
- 1977 - Royal Force
- 1978 - Pure Steel
- 1979 - The Scotsman
- 1980 - Locarno
- 1981 - Friendly Footman
- 1982 - Gundary Flyer
- 1983 - Popular Alm
- 1984 - Double Agent
- 1985 - Preux Chevalier
- 1986 - Village Kid
- 1986 - Master Mood
- 1987 - Village Kid
- 1988 - Our Maestro
- 1989 - Westburn Grant
- 1990 - Westburn Grant
- 1991 - Christopher Vance
- 1992 - Franco Tiger
- 1993 - Chokin
- 1994 - Chokin
- 1996 - Iraklis
- 1996 - Norm’s Daughter
- 1997 - Our Sir Vancelot
- 1998 - Christian Cullen
- 1999 - Holmes D G
- 2000 - Holmes D G
- 2001 - Smooth Satin
- 2003 - Double Identity
- 2003 - Sokyola
- 2004 - Sokyola
- 2005 - Be Good Johnny
- 2006 - Be Good Johnny
- 2008 - Divisive
- 2009 - Monkey King
- 2010 - Smoken Up
External links
Categories:- Harness racing in Australia
- Group one harness races in Australia
- Australasian Grand Circuit Races
- Miracle Mile winners
- Horse race stubs
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