The Miracle Mile is an Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n 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

Chokin

Chokin is a New Zealand Standardbred racehorse who was notable in winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup, which is New Zealand's most prestigious horse race...

. When the race distance became 1760 metres the fastest mile rates were 1:54.2 by Iraklis and 1:54.4 by Christian Cullen

Christian Cullen (horse)

Christian Cullen is a Standardbred stallion and was one of New Zealand's best pacers. Named after the New Zealand international rugby union player, Christian Cullen, he won 22 of his 31 starts, and $NZ1,249,150 in prize money. He is notable in that he won both the Auckland Trotting Cup and New...

. 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
  Hondo Grattan
  Hondo Grattan was a Standardbred pacer from Bathurst, New South Wales known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully defend an Inter Dominion title. Hondo Grattan was the first horse in Australia to win...
  
  
• 1975 - Young Quinn
  Young Quinn
  Young Quinn a New Zealand standardbred racehorse was successful in period where his competition in the sport of trotting was particularly strong. Foaled in 1969, he was by Young Charles out of Loyal Trick by Hal Tryax . Named after Brian "Snow" Quinn a champion New Zealand sheep shearer, he was...
  
  
• 1976 - Paleface Adios
  Paleface Adios
  Paleface Adios was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan, Robalan and Pure Steel.He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and...
  
  
• 1977 - Royal Force
• 1978 - Pure Steel
  Pure Steel
  Pure Steel is the only pacer to win the A G Hunter Cup, a race over 3,050 metres and the richest handicap race for pacers in the world, three times, in 1977, 1978 and 1980. He was the first Standardbred horse to win A$500,000 in Australia. Pure Steel also won the WA Benson & Hedges Cup four times...
  
  
• 1979 - The Scotsman
• 1980 - Locarno
• 1981 - Friendly Footman
• 1982 - Gundary Flyer
• 1983 - Popular Alm
  Popular Alm
  Popular Alm was an Australian bred Standardbred pacer. He was one of the fastest pacers Australia has produced, running exceptional times over many distances. Popular Alm set a world record for a mile time trial at Moonee Valley on 13 May 1983, running 1:53.2...
  
  
• 1984 - Double Agent
• 1985 - Preux Chevalier
• 1986 - Village Kid
  Village Kid
  Village Kid is a musical group based in Perth, Australia.The group has released one E.P. Colourful Girl in July 2010, recorded with vocalist Aaron Malone with producer Anthony Cormican . The E.P. generally received favourable reviews. In September 2010, the title track from this E.P. was awarded...
  
  
• 1986 - Master Mood
• 1987 - Village Kid
  Village Kid
  Village Kid is a musical group based in Perth, Australia.The group has released one E.P. Colourful Girl in July 2010, recorded with vocalist Aaron Malone with producer Anthony Cormican . The E.P. generally received favourable reviews. In September 2010, the title track from this E.P. was awarded...
  
  
• 1988 - Our Maestro
• 1989 - Westburn Grant
• 1990 - Westburn Grant
• 1991 - Christopher Vance
• 1992 - Franco Tiger
• 1993 - Chokin
  Chokin
  Chokin is a New Zealand Standardbred racehorse who was notable in winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup, which is New Zealand's most prestigious horse race...
  
  
• 1994 - Chokin
  Chokin
  Chokin is a New Zealand Standardbred racehorse who was notable in winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup, which is New Zealand's most prestigious horse race...
  
  
• 1996 - Iraklis
• 1996 - Norm’s Daughter
• 1997 - Our Sir Vancelot
  Our Sir Vancelot
  Our Sir Vancelot is a New Zealand, standardbred stallion. Known as Sir Vancelot in New Zealand, he won a record three straight Inter Dominion finals, 1997, 1998 and 1999...
  
  
• 1998 - Christian Cullen
  Christian Cullen (horse)
  Christian Cullen is a Standardbred stallion and was one of New Zealand's best pacers. Named after the New Zealand international rugby union player, Christian Cullen, he won 22 of his 31 starts, and $NZ1,249,150 in prize money. He is notable in that he won both the Auckland Trotting Cup and New...
  
  
• 1999 - Holmes D G
• 2000 - Holmes D G
• 2001 - Smooth Satin
• 2003 - Double Identity
• 2003 - Sokyola
• 2004 - Sokyola
• 2005 - Be Good Johnny
  Be Good Johnny (horse)
  Be Good Johnny is an Australian born Standardbred pacer trained, owned and driven by John McCarthy of Logan Village, Queensland. He started his career later than most at age 5 coming second in a trial at Albion Park on 17 February 2004. His first win came in his next race 2 March 2004 in a C0 to C1...
  
  
• 2006 - Be Good Johnny
  Be Good Johnny (horse)
  Be Good Johnny is an Australian born Standardbred pacer trained, owned and driven by John McCarthy of Logan Village, Queensland. He started his career later than most at age 5 coming second in a trial at Albion Park on 17 February 2004. His first win came in his next race 2 March 2004 in a C0 to C1...
  
  
• 2008 - Divisive
• 2009 - Monkey King
  Monkey King (horse)
  Monkey King is a leading New Zealand Standardbred racehorse. He is most noted for winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup and New Zealand Free-For-All double in two consecutive years, in 2009 and 2010, the first time this has ever been achieved. He also won the Miracle Mile and the Auckland Trotting...
  
  
• 2010 - Smoken Up

External links

• Miracle Mile Homepage