On Saturday 25 February 2017, the fiftieth running of the New South Wales Harness Racing Club’s ‘Miracle Mile’ will take place at TABCorp Park, Menangle. First run in March 1967 and won by the wonderful New Zealand mare Robin Dundee, the Miracle Mile holds pride of place on the New South Wales harness racing calendar.
In the following narrative, many matters are summarised in respect of this Grand Circuit (since 1977), Group One race over those fifty years. Much of the information will provide a statistical feast of facts and figures regarding the Miracle Mile with mention of some of the many great winners of the race.
Background
The Miracle Mile was instigated by Len Smith, then Chief Executive of the New South Wales Trotting Club and his memory is honoured with the running of the Len Smith Mile, a Group One ($100,000) feature since 2008. Smoken Up won four of the first nine editions : 29 June 2008 (1:51.9), 23 Apr 2010 (1:50.9), his Australasian record and first sub 1:50 mile in Southern Hemisphere (sub 1:50’s now total eleven six years later) on 30 April 2011 (1:48.5, 1.8 seconds under previous record held by Smoken Up) and 28 Apr 2012 (1:52.4).
Sydney harness racing featured mobile starts at every meeting at Harold Park by the end of 1965. In 1966, the mobile start Lightning Invitation Mile became the forerunner to Craven Filter Miracle Mile. In a field of six, four of whom were mares (Rachel McGregor, Scottira, Flaming Star, Little Maori who did not start), Rachel McGregor won from Scottira after leading all the way.
Inaugural Miracle Mile
In 1967 (3 March) the first running of the now time honoured Miracle Mile, won by champion NZ mare Robin Dundee in a new Harold Park and Australian mares record of 1:59.0 – the first time two minutes had been beaten in a race in Australia. The field of six contained classy mares Rachel McGregor (NSW), Angelique (Victoria), New Zealand’s Robin Dundee plus the boys in Tongue Twister (NSW), Southern Song (NZ) and Rocky Star (NZ).
Robin Dundee’s connections pocketed $12,500 for her win made up of $7,500 basic winning prize money (trophy valued at $250) plus $1,000 for bettering Mineral Springs Australian race record of 2:01.2 set in 1956 and $4,000 for equalling or bettering two minutes. Trained by Jack Walsh for Mataura owner Jack Hewitt and driven by future World Champion driver Robert Cameron, defeating Tongue Twister and Angelique by 25 yards and 3 yards in 1:59,0/60.0 (opening half in 59 seconds). A crowd of 20,287 attended with the featured inaugural race being a great success.
(Note – clips of this race and other Miracle Miles are available to view on You Tube).
Robin Dundee’s career record shows earnings of $229,272 (1:59.0) having raced in NZ, Australia and United States with major victories being NZ Oaks, NZFFA, 1965 ID Pacing Final/dead heated with Jay Ar (second 1966 final; winner of 4 ID heats), Auckland Cup, Miracle Mile; seconds in NZ Cup (to Cardigan Bay 1963; Garry Dillon 1965; Lordship 1966), Hunter Cup (to Minuteman), Easter Cup (twice) and to Cardigan Bay at Freehold Raceway in September 1968 when Cardigan Bay became a millionaire and NZ Hall of Fame inductee.
Robin Dundee was by Hal Tryax (sire of Cardigan Bay, Tactile) out of a Dillon Hall mare in Cherry Blossom (fourth dam of Blossom Lady). She left a number of successful progeny :
- Genghis Khan (Meadow Skipper), $983,467, 1:58.1US at two, Meadowlands Pace finalist, winner of Governor Driscoll – open pace, world record 1:51.4US (previously Niatross 1:52.1US), won last nine career starts in sub 1:55 miles in 1982; sire that stood in North America (over 180 winners), NZ (27 winners) and Australia (200 winners), sire of Khans Thunder (VIC SS – 2c, VIC Derby), Mighty Khan (1:51.3US), Sogo (1:52.4US, GN Derby), Warrior Khan (NSW SS – 3c. QLD Pacing Championship/Winter Cup); dam sire of Safin (Jewels Diamond – 3f, Gold Coast Oaks)
- Dundee Adios (Adios Butler), broke a bone in his leg and exported to NZ and then Australia leaving 51 winners (42 NZ, 9 AUS). Dam sire of Adios Dream (Welcome Stakes), Advance Debra (NZSS – 2f, dam of Courage Under Fire)
- Miss Robin Dundee (Tar Heel), 2:04.8, grand dam of Light Year (1:53.3US, Timaru Challenge Stakes), fourth dam of Rosa Mach(APG – 3f)
- Dundee Butler (Adios Butler), 2:08.4US, sire of 34 winners in Australia including dam sire of Backas Cobber (NSW Trotters Derby)
- Dundee Scarlet (Nansemond), dam of Admirals Jodie, 1:55.0US
This is the Fashion Queen family (N69) with descendants apart from those already mentioned including Blossom Lady (dam of Mister DG), Ima Orphan and Hectorjayjay (Chery Blossom, fifth dam).
Miracle Mile : Facts and Figures
As peviously mentioned, the inaugural running took place during the 1967/68 season at Harold Park (Friday 3 March 1967 where it continued to be run until 2009 (exceptions being 1995 due to extensions being made at Harold Park track and facilities and 2007 due to the outbreak of equine influenza [EI] in Australia). Moving from Harold Park to Menangle after the sale of Harold Park, the Miracle Mile was held for the first time at Menangle on 29 November 2009 (day meeting). Dates for the Miracle Mile have changed around somewhat over the years :
- March : 1967 – 1978; 1980
- April : 1979; 2013 (1)
- January : 1981 – 1982; 1984 – 1986 (1)
- February : 1983; 2016
- December : 1986 (2); 1996 (2) – 1997
- November : 1987 – 1994; 1998 – 2006; 2008 – 2011; 2013 (2) – 2014
- June : 1996 (1)
All Miracle Miles have been raced at night with the exception of those run in 2009, 2013 (April) and 2016, all at Menangle. This year’s event has reverted to an evening programme on Saturday 25 February, the concluding night of the Sky Carnival of Miracles, featuring six group Ones on Group One night headlined by the Miracle Mile being the fiftirth running.
There were two Miracle Mile races run in 1986 (1985/6 and 1986/7 seasons), 1996 (1995/6 and 1996/7 seasons) and 2013 (2012/3 and 2013/4 seasons). To summarise, years 1967 – 1985 (19 running’s), 1986 (2), 1987 – 1994 (8), 1996 (2), 1997 – 2006 (10), 2008 – 2011 (4), 2013 (2), 2014 (1), 2016 (1) totalling forty nine Miracle Miles run to date [remembering not run in 1995 or 2007 with date changes made meaning also no race in calendar years 2012 or 2015].
Sponsorship of the Miracle Mile commenced from the first race run in 1967 when WD & HO Wills who were the first to sponsor races at Harold Park stepped up to the plate for the first 23 editions of the Miracle Mile until a State Government clampdown on tobacco advertising forced their withdrawal. The full sponsors card reads – Craven Filter (18) 1967 – 1984; JPS [John Player Special] (3) 1985 – 1986 twice; Commodore (2) 1987 – 1988/all under WD & HO Wills banner; Coca-Cola (8) 1989 – 1996; Aristocrat Leisure Industries (5) 1997 – 1999/Aristocrat Technologies 2001; SEW Euro drive (13) 2002 – 2006, 2008 – 2011, 2013 (2) – 2014, 2016. This year’s event is being sponsored by Ainsworth. As can be seen WD & HO Wills (first 23 editions), most recent sponsor SEW Eurodrive (13) and Coca – Cola (8) have played leading relationship roles.
The stake for the Miracle Mile has increased substantially since its first running. In 1967, the stake money paid out totalled $15,000 (including bonuses) increasing incrementally through to this year’s anniversary for a purse of $750,000. Significant increases to the prize money that was available (including bonuses for times run/records bettered in the first thirty of so years of race) have been a feature of the Miracle Mile as can be seen from the timeline below :
1970 $25,500 ($15,500 paid as basic stake of $13,000 plus $2,500 for two minute mile)
1980 $80,000 ($65,000 paid out as no bonuses criteria met)
1984 $130,000 ($100,000 paid out as no bonuses criteria met)
1988 $250,000 ($200,000 paid out as no bonuses criteria met)
1991 $300,000 (including bonuses, $267,250 paid out)
2001 $400,000
2003/2004 $550,000
2005 – 2011 $500,000
2013 – 2016 $750,000
The only three mares to win a Miracle Mile are Robin Dundee (1967), Norms Daughter (June 1996) and Baby Bling (2013), the fastest mare in 1:50.5.
Leading winning drivers : with three winning drives have been Vic Frost (Lucky Creed 1970, Westburn Grant 1989, 1990), Lance Justice (2004 Sokyola, Smoken Up 2010,2011), Tony Herlihy (Christopher Vance 1991, Chokin 1993, 1994). Those with two wins include Kevin Newman, Ricky May, Barry Purdon, John McCarthy, Chris Lewis, Vin Knight.
Female winning drivers : Kellie Kersley (on one of only three mares Norms Daughter to win race, June 1996), Jodi Quinlan (Sokyola, 2004), Natalie Rasmussen on Have Faith In Me in latest Miracle Mile in Australasian best mile time of 1:47.5.
Most drives : Brian Hancock with 14 although he never won one (second placings with Bundanoon, Thorate, Courage Under Fire), he did train Our Sir Vancelot to win 1997 edition while under suspension for six weeks for his drive on Our Sir Vancelot in Queensland Pacing Championship; Tony Herlihy (9 for three wins); Ricky May (8 for two wins); Kevin Newman (7 for two wins); Kevin Robinson and Luke McCarthy (7 for no wins); Lance Justice (6 for three wins); John McCarthy (6 for two wins). Natalie Rasmussen with one win from five drives (four on Blacks A Fake for two seconds) is leading female driver.
Trainers : Barry Purdon is leading trainer with five successes (Christopher Vance 1991, Chokin 1993, 1994 and Holmes DG 1999, 2000). He also drove Holmes DG to success so he could be considered one of the “Miracle Mile” kingpins together with Lance Justice with four training successes, Sokyola and Smoken Up both dual winners and he also features as one of the three leading winning drivers with three (Jodi Quinlan drove Sokyola in 2005). Trainers of dual winners are Bob Knight (Popular Alm, Our Maestro) , Bill Horn (Village Kid twice), Vic Frost (Westburn Grant twice), John McCarthy (Be Good Johnny twice).
Owners – the most successful have been those whose horses are dual winners – see later for list of seven dual winners.
Field sizes : until 2002, fields were restricted to six starters; in 2002 increased to eight, although seven started that year due to a scratching).
Times run especially over the past few years in the Miracle Mile have been amongst the fastest recorded throughout Australasia. Account needs to be taken of the varying track sizes and race distances over which the Miracle Mile has been run. Up until the end of 1995 Harold Park’s track circumference was 743m (raced over 1 mile 1967 – 1994) before track reconstruction in early 1996 increased its circumference to 805m (raced over 1760m 1996 – 2008). The move to TABCorp Park, Menangle with an increased track size to 1400m and the race distance reverting back to 1 mile.
Robin Dundee established the initial Miracle Mile race record of 1:59.0 in 1967 (Australian mare’s race record). Since then race records have been set by Halwes (1968, 1:58.6, Australian race record); Reichmann (1:58.4, 1973) equalled by Paleface Adios in 1976; Gundary Flyer (1:56.9, 1982); Preux Chevalier (1:56.7, 1985); Master Mood (1:56.1, December 1986); Westburn Grant (1:55.6, 1990) equalled by Norms Daughter ‘s 1:55.6MR over 1760m in 1996; Iraklis (1:54.2, 1997 fastest MR over 1760m before race reverted to 1 mile in 2009); Monkey King (1:50:8, 2009, Australian record, Australasian race record); Smoken Up (1:50.3, 2010, Australian, Australasian record); Beautide (1:50.2, November 2013).
Note – Baby Bling’s 1:50.5 in April 2013 was an Australian mares race record, since bettered by Adore Me‘s 1:47.7 (March2015).
Christen Me in 2014 ushered in the sub 1:50 mile when timed in 1:49.1 before the latest Miracle Mile last year (2016) when Have Faith In Me claimed the Australian/Australasian race records from full sister Adore Me (1:47.7, 2015 Ladyship Mile) when recording a winning time of 1:47.5. These times compare very favourably with the 95 other sub 1:48 times set to date in North America (48 between 1:47.8 and 1:48.0).
Note – the slowest winning Miracle Mile time has been The Scotsman’s 2:00.7 set in 1979, one of just five times a time of two minutes or slower has been recorded in the 50 year history of the race.
Winning margins – in imperial terms (up to 1974), Robin Dundee’s victory in the first Miracle Mile by 25 yards reigns supreme (Mount Eden 15 yards). In the metric era, the greatest winning margin was Village Kid‘s first win in January 1986 by 13 metres and Preux Chevalier’s 1985 victory by a margin of nine metres leaving the Western Australians in front on this count.
Seven two time winners : first Village Kid (1986 – January, 1987; also third); Westburn Grant (1989, 1990; also third, fourth); Chokin (1993, 1994; also fall); Holmes D G (1999, 2000, also unplaced); Sokyola (2003, 2004; also unplaced); Be Good Johnny (2005, 2006); Smoken Up (2010, 2011; also second, unplaced).
Winners by state/country : New Zealand and New South Wales (14), Victoria (8), Western Australia (7), Queensland (3), Tasmania (2), South Australia (1 – 1973 Reichman).
Youngest winners : four year olds – Mount Eden, Gundary Flyer, Westburn Grant, Iraklis, Christian Cullen, Have Faith In Me. Oldest winners – Double Agent (12yo in 1984); nine year old’s Robin Dundee (1967) and Smoken Up‘s second win in 2011 and eight year olds Halwes (1968), Reichmann (1973), Sokyola (2004).
Most starts : Paleface Adios with seven for a win, four seconds, a third and a fifth. He was followed by those that had four starts in Miracle Miles – Westburn Grant, Smoken Up, Blacks A Fake, Terror To Love (second, fourth), Koala King (third, fourth).
Betting : with records being recorded up to 2002 in bookmaker’s odds, the largest return was Friendly Footman at 10/1 in 1981 with Royal Force producing a return of 7/1 in 1977. TAB dividends have proven more lucrative for punters over the past decade with three double digit returns being recorded – Baby Bling‘s $33.90 outsider in a field of seven in April 2013 being the largest. Divisive’s $16.50 (sixth favourite of eight) in 2008 followed closely by Sokyola’s $15 (sixth favourite of eight) in 2003 are next best. For all that, the majority of Miracle Miles have been won by favourites.
In the breeding barn, leading sire with five Miracle Mile credits is Vance Hanover (Our Sir Vancelot, Iraklis, Chokin (2), Christopher Vance). Those sires with two wins are Bettors Delight, Fake Left, Gramatan, Holmes Hanover, Land Grant, Sokys Atom and Tinted Cloud. As a dam sire of Miracle Mile winners Smooth Fella leads the way with three (Divisive, Monkey King, Smooth Satin), those dam sires with two credits are Camtastic, Dillon Hall, Lumber Dream, Regal Yankee, Son Of Afella, The Southside and predominately trotting sires’ Chiola Hanover and Tuft.
On the maternal side Dairy Maid (U30) leads with seven winners (Monkey King, Sokyola twice, Holmes DG twice, Iraklis, Mount Eden) from those families with two credits each in Crab (A114), Lady Agnes (N88), Jessie B (N9), Black Betty (U300), Nora (U305) and Agnes by John Nelson (U308). Aside from the dams of dual winners, the notable individual dam is Scuse Me – dam of Have Faith In Me and grand dam of Christen Me, the last two winners. New Zealand bred mares have been the dams of 28 Miracle Mile winners (57%).
The Interdominion/Miracle Mile double in the same year was first achieved by Hondo Grattan in 1974 (Gloucester Park) with others being Young Quinn (1975, Alexandra Park), Preux Chevalier (1985, Moonee Valley), Village Kid (1986 Albion Park), Our Maestro (1988, Harold Park) and Our Sir Vancelot (1997, Globe Derby). Several have completed the same double but in different years – Westburn Grant (1988, 1989 Miracle Mile; 1992 Moonee Valley ID), Our Sir Vancelot (1997 Miracle Mile; ID’s in 1998 Hobart Showgrounds, 1999 Alexandra Park), Smooth Satin (2001 Miracle Mile, 2002 Harold Park ID) and Beautide (2013 Miracle Mile; 2014, 2015 Menangle ID’s).
Interesting events/Controversies : these are many and varied and included the inevitable field selection wrangles which seemed to crop up more years than not. The lack of consistent invitation or race victory criteria appears to have been the major stumbling point.
- Halwes, after winning his three heats at 1968 Auckland Interdominions before being scratched due to injury just prior to post time, returned to Australia to take out the second ever Miracle Mile in Australian race record time
- Mount Eden, whilst failing to make the 1971 Christchurch ID Grand Final, time trialled in 1:56.6 (.4 second outside Cardigan Bay’s Australasian record 1:56.2TT) on a wet Addington track on Grand Final day before blitzing a Miracle Mile field by 15 yards just weeks later (fifteenth win in 21 starts). He had trotted and then broken when a false start was declared at first attempt at getting the field underway, did exactly the same again at the second attempt being tailed off behind a classy field of top sprinters before chasing, looping and running away from them in the home straight
- Bay Foyle in 1972 was first non favourite to win at 5/1
- Hondo Grattan became first Interdominion/Miracle Mile winner in same year/season, joined the following year by Young Quinn who had made a clean sweep of his three heats and Grand Final at Alexandra Park. Young Quinn became the first horse to win from the outside barrier position of six
- 1977 the first field of all sub two minute horses – Royal Force, Paleface Adios, Markovina, Don’t Retreat, Lincoln Star, Pure Steel
- 1979 the race televised nationwide on ABC for the first time
- 1982 an all NSW field for the first time – Gundary Flyer, Double Imp, Double Agent, Tidy Jason, Lord Pancho, Koala King
- 1984 rising 13yo Double Agent, a patched up crock following several injury breakdowns successful
- 1987 Village Kid become first dual winner
- Village Kid’s 1988 invitation (chance to become first three time winner) was withdrawn due to his connections inability to meet the race conditions of parading the horse at Rosehill racecourse the Saturday before the race. Asking to be excused from this condition, Village Kid was denied an exemption and his invitation rescinded
- 1989 two three year olds included in the short list of invitees for the first time – Galarion, Honkin Vision
- Chokin was the first three year old included in a Miracle Mile field in 1991 – he galloped as the field was released and fell exhausted as the field rounded the home turn
- Travel complications prevented 1992 NZ Cup winner Blossom Lady from accepting her invitation to the Miracle Mile. She would have had to have been floated 1200km to Auckland from Christchurch prior to flying to Sydney
- Jack Morris scratched on vets advice due to blood trickling from a nostril in 1993 delaying the start by twenty minutes
- Early 1990’s the introduction of security guards for all runners 48 hours before the race plus pre race blood and urine testing
- December 1996 winner Iraklis was trained by Robert Cameron, driver of inaugural Miracle Mile winner Robin Dundee thirty years earlier
- 1997 Our Sir Vancelot’s win occurred without his normal driver (trainer) Brian Hancock being his pilot due to a six week suspension incurred for his drive on Our Sir Vancelot in the QLD Pacing Championship. Christian Cullen became the second three year old to take his place in Miracle Mile field, however he was withdrawn from the field ten minutes prior to post time by stewards due to a pre race urine sample showing the presence of a prohibited substance (heptaminol). Legal action was instigated subsequently by connections
- Three year old Courage Under Fire received an invitation in 1999 which his connections declined, keeping his racing confined to his own age group
- Holmes DG’s win in 1999 became the first horse to take out Harold Park’s triple crown of feature races – May 1998 NSW Derby, April 1999 Chariots Of Fire, November 1999 Miracle Mile
The 2000’s have seen a series of dual winners with four horses each winning two Miracle Miles, so that eight of the past sixteen winners have been two time winners. Lance Justice had four training and three driving successes in the space of eight Miracle Miles between 2003 and 2011. Equine influenza outbreak meant no race in 2007, renovations at Menangle provided for no race in 2012 made up for with two editions in 2013 and a change of carnival dates from November to March led to no race in 2015.
After the move to Menangle in 2009 race times were noticeably reduced with the commencement of 1:50 and sub 1:50 race times. Monkey King led the way with his Australasian record time of 1:50.8 in 2009, with each edition since then being in better than1:52. Christen Me ramped this up in 2014 when current World Drivers Champion Dexter Dunn piloted him to the first sub 1:50 Miracle Mile (1:49.1) before Have Faith In Me’s defining 1:47.5 last season (2016) for Natalie Rasmussen, the third female driver of a Miracle Mile winner. My Hard Copy was disqualified from fourth due to unacceptable use of the whip by driver Clinton Hall in last years edition.
There has been so much more written concerning one of Australasia’s premier Grand Circuit races, the Miracle Mile is half a century old with many more editions pending of this great race. Who will win and celebrate the fiftieth running of the Miracle Mile – Saturday evening 25 February will determine that puzzler.
Peter Craig
20 February 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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