MIRACLE MILE RESULTS

1967 - ROBIN DUNDEE

• 1967 - 1st Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st ROBIN DUNDEE (Robert Cameron)
• 2nd TONGUE TWISTER (Kevin Newman)
• 3rd ANGELIQUE (Gordon Rothacker)
• Then came: ROCKY STAR (Ivan Schwamm), RACHEL MCGREGOR (John Menzies), SOUTHERN SONG (Colin McDonald).
• Margins: 25 yards x 3 yards
• Winners Rate: 1:59 (Australian Record)

INTEREST was at fever pitch when the six invited runners stepped on to Harold Park for the inaugural Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 3, 1967. One of the first Australian horse races to be sponsored, it was also one of the first shown `live' on television through the ABC and regional stations.

The field contained three New Zealand pacers - Robin Dundee, Rocky Star and Southern Song - two local Sydney pacers, Tongue Twister and Rachel McGregor, and the Victorian mare Angelique. History was made that balmy March night.

A crowd of 20,287 gave eight-year-old mare Robin Dundee (45 fav.) a champion's ovation in her lap of honour after scorching over the Glebe circuit in 1:59 with Robert Cameron in the sulky to record an effortless 25-yard victory over Tongue Twister (9-2). Angelique (10-1) was three metres away third.

Australian Harness Racing had come of age. The inaugural Miracle Mile did more to put Australia and New Zealand on the centre stage of the world's scene than any other individual event. Five of those six pacers eventually raced in the US. Angelique was the only one to stay home.

1968 - HALWES

• 1968 - 2nd Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st HALWES (Kevin Newman)
• 2nd FIRST LEE (Kevin Robinson)
• 3rd GREAT ADIOS (Ray Norton)
• Then came: PADDYS NIGHT (Alf Phillis), MACAREE (Les Chant), CARDINAL BRUCE (Barry Stocks) fell.
• Margins: 20 yards x 10 yards
• Winners Rate: 1:58.6

THE second Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 8, 1968, attracted a crowd of 19,858. Basic prizemoney was $10,000, with an additional $2500 if the winner equalled or bettered two minutes, and a further $5000 to equal or better Robin Dundee's track record of 1:59.

The Tasmanian champion, Halwes, ruled out of the Inter-Dominion Final at Alexandra Park, Auckland, less than a fortnight earlier with a leg injury, eclipsed the deeds of all previous `all time' greats of trotting with a sensational victory.

Driven by Kevin Newman, Halwes stopped the clock at 1:58.6 after they ran the first half-mile in 59.2 seconds, and the last 800 metres in 59.4. A prohibitive 4-9 favourite, Halwes came home the final quarter in 29.2 to beat the Auckland Inter-Dominion Champion, First Lee (9-2), by 20 yards, with the New Zealander Great Adios (4-1) 10 yards away third.

The American interest was maintained with three of that year's runners - First Lee, Paddy's Night and Cardinal Bruce - later campaigning in America. After only two editions of the Miracle Mile, no less than eight of the 12 individual starters were sold to race in the United States.

1969 - ADAPTOR

• 1969 - 3rd Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st ADAPTOR (Jack Hargreaves)
• 2nd TWINKLE HANOVER (Robert Cameron)
• 3rd VIKING WATER (Kevin Robinson)
• Then came: COCKY RAIDER (Gordon McWilliam), RICHMOND LASS (Cyril Caffyn), CELEVALE VAN (John Heath).
• Margins: 7 yards x 5 yards
• Winners Rate: 1:59.2

SUCCESS followed success. The following year, 1969, saw 19,593 attend the third Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 14. Basic prizemoney was increased to $12,500, plus a further $2500 if the winner equalled or bettered two minutes, and a further $10,000 to equal or better the 1:58.6 track record set by Halwes a year earlier.

Victorian speedster, Adaptor (1-2 fav.), driven by his trainer Jack Hargreaves, took the lead after going two furlongs and was untroubled to beat Twinkle Hanover (6-1) by seven yards, after running his final quarter in 29 seconds. Viking Water (8-1) was five yards away third.

Adaptor, which had to be scratched from the race a year earlier after injuring a check ligament, ran the mile in 1:59.2, while Twinkle Hanover clocked 1:59.8 - the first time two runners had gone better than two minutes in a race in Australia.

The exodus to America continued. Three more Miracle Mile starters were later sold to race in the Northern Hemisphere - Adaptor, Twinkle Hanover and Cocky Raider, which finished fourth in 2:00.6. The American export tally was now eleven.

1970 - LUCKY CREED

• 1970 - 4th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st LUCKY CREED (Vic Frost)
• 2nd BOLD DAVID (Alf Simons)
• 3rd IMATOFF (Kevin Innes)
• Then came: DEEP COURT (Joe Webster), DAINTYS DAUGHTER (Kevin Newman), TARA MEADOW (George Gath).
• Margins: 1.5 yards x 3 yards
• Winners Rate: 1:59

ONCE again basic prizemoney was increased for the fourth Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 13, 1970 - $13,000, plus $2500 for a two-minute mile and $10,000 for breaking the track record, which was still held by Halwes.

Racing with a perfect trail behind the reigning Melbourne Inter-Dominion Champion, Bold David (6-1), until the two-furlong post, the brilliant Queenslander, Lucky Creed, favourite at 9-10 with Vic Frost in the sulky, finished strongly to just edge out the Victorian gelding by one-and-a-half yards. Another Victorian, Imatoff (12-1) was three yards away third.

Before a crowd of 21,611, the first four placegetters all recorded sub two-minute miles, the first time this had happened in a race in Australia. Lucky Creed stopped the clock at 1:59; Bold David (1:59.2), Imatoff (1:59.4) and Deep Court (1:59.8).

Lucky Creed's 29th win from 35 starts, it was a remarkable effort considering he was only a 2:26 class horse when he arrived in New South Wales unheralded from Queensland six months earlier.

Holder of the Australasian record winning sequence of 24 until Maori's Idol equalled his feat in 1978, which was subsequently extended to 29 by San Simeon in 1981, Lucky Creed was without a doubt the best pacer to come out of Queensland.

His ability to `back up' after a hard run was incredible. He could race every night of the week and still look fresh. During November 1969, Lucky Creed won eight races for the month. At one stage he won three races in five days. In November and December of that year he won 14 races, and in December he won six races in the space of 15 days.

That was Lucky Creed's last run in Australia for quite some time. Yonkers Raceway President, Martin Tananbaum, was successful in negotiating with owner-trainer Merv Wanless to take the entire to Yonkers Raceway, New York, for the International Series in May.

Experiencing leg problems in America, Lucky Creed won six of 20 starts in the US before returning home to Queensland. He had one further season of racing in Australia in 1972-73 when 11 starts produced six wins, a second and a third.

1971 - MOUNT EDEN

• 1971 - 5th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st MOUNT EDEN (Jack Miles)
• 2nd DEEP COURT (Joe Webster)
• 3rd BAY FOYLE (Charlie Parsons)
• Then came: STELLA FROST (Doody Townley), NEUTRODYNE (Buddy King), MANAROA (Alan Harrison).
• Margins: 15 yards x half-head
• Winners Rate: 1:58.8

CHAMPION WA pacer, Mount Eden, fresh from a number of sub two-minute miles during the Inter-Dominion series at Addington in Christchurch, New Zealand, was the star attraction of the fifth Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 12, 1971. Basic prizemoney was increased to $17,500, with an additional $12,500 in time incentives.

A record Miracle Mile crowd of 24,492 saw Mount Eden, driven by his trainer, Jack Miles, overcome difficulties to win brilliantly in 1:58.8, only .2 of a second outside the record held by Halwes.

In a race of sensations before the biggest crowd at Harold Park since the 1960 Inter-Dominion Final, Mount Eden wanted to trot in the score-up then went into a wild gallop just before the field was released.

Punters, who had backed Mount Eden into 6-4 favouritism, were given another chance, however, when the starter, Clive Salkeld, declared a false start. The field re-assembled, but once again Mount Eden wanted to trot a few strides in his hopples. Miles restrained him, but the champion broke into a gallop. This time there was no second chance. The starter went without him.

Still in a gallop, Mount Eden was left a conservative 10 lengths as the Kiwi mare Stella Frost and Bay Foyle raced head and head into the first turn. Tailed off for some considerable distance, Mount Eden unwound an amazing turn of speed to catch the field, then swept to the front with three furlongs to go. He then careered away to beat Deep Court (16-1) by 15 yards, with Bay Foyle (8-1) a halfhead away third.

Both Mount Eden and Stella Frost, which finished fourth in 2:00.4, were later sold to race in America to bring the tally of exports to the United States to fourteen.

1972 - BAY FOYLE

• 1972 - 6th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st BAY FOYLE (Charlie Parsons)
• 2nd REICHMAN (Rex Hocking)
• 3rd MANAROA (Alan Harrison)
• Then came: WELCOME ADVICE (Alan Harpley), DEEP COURT (Joe Webster), MANARA (Don Dove).
• Margins: head x 4 yards
• Winners Rate: 2:00.6

THE first five Miracle Miles produced five sub two-minute winners, with 1970 featuring four sub two-minute miles. Two years later, on March 10, 1972, a crowd of 24,412 saw Bay Foyle become the first winner not to record a two-minute mile.

The race was expected to develop into one of the fastest run as Reichman, Deep Court, Monara and Bay Foyle all appeared contenders for the lead, but heavy rain on the Monday before the Miracle Mile, put ground staff behind in their preparation of a fast surface.

When Reichman drew the pole, there were plenty of supporters to say he could become the first horse to lead throughout and win the Miracle Mile. No leader had been able to win the previous five editions, although Bold David gave it a mighty nudge when beaten narrowly by Lucky Creed in 1970.

Reichman had the right credentials. At his previous start, he became the first pacer to better two minutes in a race on the three furlong Melbourne Showgrounds track, rating 1:58.6 to win the Anniversary Cup Final on February 26.

After a thrilling duel over the last half furlong that had the big crowd on its toes, Bay Foyle (5-1), driven by Charlie Parsons, wore down Reichman (3-1) to win by a head in 2:00.6.

Manaroa, the rat-tailed, roached-back midget from New Zealand, was sensationally backed in from 5-1 to 5-2 favouritism, but was four yards away third.

1973 - REICHMAN

• 1973 - 7th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st REICHMAN (Rex Hocking)
• 2nd ROYAL ASCOT (Alan Harrison)
• 3rd MANAROA (Neville Hargraves)
• Then came: WELCOME ADVICE (Bernie Clarke), YANKEE RHYTHM (Trevor Warwick), JUST TOO GOOD (Keith Pike).
• Margins: 16 yards x 2.5 yards
• Winners Rate: 1:58.4 (Race record)

THE NSW Trotting Club was faced with a major problem in trying to select the field for the seventh Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 16, 1973 - an embarrassment of riches. Just about every top-flight pacer in Australia and New Zealand was in Sydney after contesting the Inter-Dominion a fortnight earlier.

Stakemoney was increased to $40,000. Basic prizemoney remained the same, $20,000, with the increase coming in incentive payments. There was $5000 if the winner bettered 2:00, and a further $10,000 to better the Australian record of 1:58.6. In addition, $1000 was to be paid to all runners, outside the winner, which bettered two minutes.

Reichman (7-2), runner-up to Bay Foyle a year earlier, was the oldest runner in the field, but showed blistering pace out of the mobile and paced the fastest race mile recorded on an Australian track.

The eight-year-old gelding whirled around Harold Park in 1:58.4 with Rex Hocking in the sulky to win by 16 yards before a crowd of 17,080.

His sheer pace took him to a clear length lead going into the first turn, and then to a two-length break as he breezed through the half in 58.4 seconds.

It was not until the two furlongs post that his speed began to tell. The others wilted and Reichman shot further ahead as he opened up a six-length break running into the final furlong.

With Hocking driving him out with the whip when he realised an Australian record was in sight, Reichman drew clear over the concluding stages and was untroubled to beat Royal Ascot (7-1) by 16 yards, with Manaroa (3-1 fav.) two-and-a-half yards away third, slicing .2 of a second from the track record set by Halwes in 1968.

Once again, the first three placegetters turned in two-minute performances with Royal Ascot in 1:59.8 and Manaroa in 2:00.

1974 - HONDO GRATTAN

• 1974 - 8th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st HONDO GRATTAN (Tony Tunbull)
• 2nd PALEFACE ADIOS (Keith Pike)
• 3rd MITCHELL VICTORY (Kevin Newman)
• Then came: REICHMAN (Rex Hocking), KING FROST (Ian Mutton), APOLLO ELEVEN (John Sheehy).
• Margins: head x 6 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:59

REICHMAN and Rex Hocking returned on Friday, March 15, 1974, in an attempt to win an unprecedented second successive Craven Filter Miracle Mile. Once again the rich sprint was worth $40,000, with the usual time incentives.

The greatest ovation heard in the history of night trotting in New South Wales greeted the eighth running of Australia's premier sprint. The cheering, from the big crowd of 22,448, rang at fever pitch when two local champions - Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios - fought out a tooth-and-nail struggle all the way down the straight.

The roar of the crowd was deafening as they turned for home with Paleface Adios holding a slight advantage. For a few strides, the baldy-faced chestnut looked like winning. With sheer determination, tenacious little Hondo Grattan's will to win carried him through.

Driven by an equally determined Tony Turnbull, Hondo Grattan (7-2) simply refused to give in. At the end, his famous bulldog courage triumphed.

His victory over Paleface Adios (6-4 fav.) in that race will be long remembered. To the cheers of an emotional crowd, Hondo Grattan gradually wore down his opponent to win by a head, after giving him a length start from the 400 metres.

Mitchell Victory (6-1) ran a gallant third, six metres behind Paleface Adios, after starting from the extreme outside and being badly checked on the first turn.

Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios were both credited with a time of 1:59, while Mitchell Victory went 1:59.6.

1975 - YOUNG QUINN

• 1975 - 9th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st YOUNG QUINN (Charlie Hunter)
• 2nd MITCHELL VICTORY (Kevin Newman)
• 3rd ROYAL GAZE (Ken Pocock)
• Then came: HONDO GRATTAN (Greg Turnbull), PALEFACE ADIOS (Colin Pike), ADIOS VICTOR (Arthur Bray).
• Margins: 6 metres x head
• Winners Rate: 1:58.8

NEW ZEALAND pacer Young Quinn, fresh from a clean sweep of the Auckland Inter-Dominion series a month earlier, established himself as the best pacer in the Southern Hemisphere with a slashing `last to first' performance to win the ninth Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 7, 1975.

Basic prizemoney was $30,000, with $5000 for a two-minute mile and an additional $10,000 for an Australian record. There was also an extra $1000 for all runners, outside the winner, that bettered two minutes.

That year produced a record Miracle Mile crowd of 25,632, eclipsing the previous best of 24,492 that saw Mount Eden win four years earlier.

Young Quinn was written off by most Australian journalists after drawing the extreme outside in the six-horse field. No pacer had been able to win the race from a barrier wider than four.

There were several hard luck stories after the race - Mitchell Victory was hemmed in behind the leaders and held up for a clear run, while Hondo Grattan, winner of the race a year earlier, staged a grand performance to finish fourth after racing three-wide for the final 1000 metres - but it was impossible to detract from Young Quinn's victory.

Driven by Charlie Hunter, Young Quinn (2-1) came from last, raced wide from the 400-metre mark, then dashed away in the straight, unextended by Hunter, to win handsomely by six metres from Mitchell Victory (10-9 fav.), with Royal Gaze (10-1) a head away third.

For the second time, the first four placegetters broke two minutes. Young Quinn (1:58.8); Mitchell Victory (1:59.4); Royal Gaze (1:59.4) and Hondo Grattan (1:59.8).

1976 - PALEFACE ADIOS

• 1976 - 10th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st PALEFACE ADIOS (Colin Pike)
• 2nd DONT RETREAT (Lawrie Moulds)
• 3rd HONDO GRATTAN (Tony Turnbull)
• Then came: ROYAL GAZE (Ken Pocock), WILBUR POST (Wally Wood), MICRON (Jack Carmichael).
• Margins: 3 metres x 10 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:58.4 (Equal race record)

PALEFACE ADIOS, one of Australia's favourite pacers, turned the tables on arch-rival Hondo Grattan when they clashed in the 10th Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 12, 1976.

He picked up $32,700 for connections, made up of basic stake money of $22,500 for winning; $5000 for bettering two minutes; a special bonus of $5000 for equalling Reichman's race record, plus a $200 consistency bonus as it was his second successive win at Harold Park.

His third Miracle Mile appearance, a crowd of 20,861 turned out to see if it was going to be a case of third time lucky for the popular chestnut, which was backed in from 7-4 to start the popular pick at 11-8.

Driven by trainer, Colin Pike, Paleface Adios displayed blistering speed from barrier four and cleared the inside horses after going only 50 metres and swept to the lead.

Once in front, Pike let the chestnut run along. He never gave his rivals a look in, running the first quarter in 28 seconds, and the first half-mile in 58.6.

Paleface Adios was untroubled to beat Don't Retreat (11-4) by three metres, with Hondo Grattan (5-1) 10 metres away third, stopping the clock in 1:58.4 to equal the Miracle Mile record set by Reichman in 1973.

For the third time since its inception, the first four placegetters broke the `magical' two-minute barrier. Don't Retreat went 1:58.7 and Hondo Grattan 1:59.7, while Royal Gaze posted a time of 1:59.8 in finishing fourth.

1977 - ROYAL FORCE

• 1977 - 11th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st ROYAL FORCE (Dudley Anderson)
• 2nd PALEFACE ADIOS (Colin Pike)
• 3rd MARKOVINA (Brian Gath)
• Then came: DONT RETREAT (Lawrie Moulds), LINCOLN STAR (Bob Conroy), PURE STEEL (Jack Retzlaff).
• Margins: 1 metre x 3.5 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:59.5

FOR the first time in Australian Harness Racing history, a field made up entirely of sub two-minute performers lined up for the Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 11, 1977. The race, now in its 11th year, was firmly entrenched as the Sprint Championship of Australia.

The classy field lined up in this order: Markovina (1:59); Pure Steel (1:59); Lincoln Star (1:57.3); Don't Retreat (1:58.7); Royal Force (1:57) and Paleface Adios (1:57.6). It was also the richest field with the six runners boasting combined earnings of $940,049.

Originally scheduled for March 4, the race was postponed for a week because of the water-logged state of Harold Park, caused by heavy rain and an underground spring gushing water onto the track in the back straight.

A week later, a crowd of 18,160 turned out to see WA pacer Royal Force continue the trend for sub two-minute miles.

The race started sensationally when the 2-1 favourite, Pure Steel, paced roughly in the score-up, brushed a knee and became unbalanced and went into a gallop. He had to be hooked almost to a standstill by Jack Retzlaff and was out of the race before the starter let them go.

Driven by Dudley 'Boof' Anderson, Royal Force (7-1) covered the mile in 1:59.5 and held off the fast-finishing Paleface Adios (72) to win by a metre. Markovina (15-4) was three-and-a-half metres away third.

After the race, it was revealed that Colin Pike had lost his whip when the field straightened up for home. It was the consensus of opinion that a few reminders with the whip may have turned the one-metre deficit into a winning break for Paleface Adios.

The first three home broke two minutes, going 1:59.5, 1:59.6 and 1:59.9 respectively, while Pure Steel, which finished last, clocked a respectable 2:00.9 after bungling the start hopelessly.

1978 - PURE STEEL

• 1978 - 12th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st PURE STEEL (Ted Demmler)
• 2nd PALEFACE ADIOS (Colin Pike)
• 3rd MICHAEL FROST (Joe Ilsley)
• Then came: HERMOSA STAR (Peter Norrgard), DIMANTE HANOVER (Tom Hutchings), MARKOVINA (Kevin Robinson).
• Margins: 4 metres x nose
• Winners Rate: 2:00.4

ALTHOUGH the great sprint event maintained its tremendous public interest, 1978, `79 and `80 could be described as the `slow period' as all three winners recorded times slower than two minutes.

An increase in stakemoney saw the 12th running of the Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 31, 1978, which attracted a crowd of 20,024, worth $70,000.

That was made up of basic prizemoney of $50,000, and incentive payments of $5000 for a two-minute mile, and an additional $10,000 if the winner bettered the Harold Park record. There was also an extra $1000 for each horse, outside the winner, which bettered two minutes.

Markovina, fresh from his victory in the recent Inter-Dominion Final at Moonee Valley, started 2-1 favourite with Kevin Robinson replacing regular driver, Brian Gath, who was under suspension.

Champion WA pacer, Pure Steel, a flop in that Melbourne Inter-Dominion series, returned to top form with a typical power-house performance.

Driven by Ted Demmler, Pure Steel (5-2) sustained a strong run from last at the half-mile, and racing three-wide for the last lap, to beat the evergreen Paleface Adios (7-2) by four metres. Michael Frost (40-1) was a nose away third.

Pure Steel clocked 2:00.4, after dropping to the rear in a 28.2 first quarter and a 1:00.6 first half. It was only the second occasion in 12 editions of the race that a time of two minutes or better had not been recorded.

1979 -THE SCOTSMAN

• 1979 - 13th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st THE SCOTSMAN (Graeme Sparkes)
• 2nd PALEFACE ADIOS (keith Pike)
• 3rd LORD MODULE (Cec Devine)
• Then came: KOALA KING (Kevin Robinson), MICHAEL FROST (Joe Ilsley), MARKOVINA (Kevin Newman).
• Margins: 1.5 metres x neck
• Winners Rate: 2:00.7

AFTER only 12 years, the Craven Filter Miracle Mile had become Australia's most internationally famous pacing event. The race had gained fame throughout the world, at times even upstaging the time-honoured Inter-Dominion Championship in the eyes of American trotting administrators. The reason for the increased American interest in the race was quite obvious.

It was decided over a flying mile - the yardstick by which Americans gauge their champions. From the outset in 1967, when Robin Dundee won the inaugural Miracle Mile in 1:59, the first sub two-minute mile in the Southern Hemisphere, trotting in Australia came of age.

Since Robin Dundee's trail-blazing victory, that barrier was broken by no less that 27 Miracle Mile competitors in the ensuing 11 years. It hardly came as a surprise when 16 of them eventually found their way to the US.

Included in that group were five Miracle Mile winners - Robin Dundee, Adaptor, Lucky Creed, Mount Eden and Young Quinn. Other top pacers such as First Lee, Twinkle Hanover, Cocky Raider, Stella Frost and Royal Ascot also ended their racing days in America.

The Scotsman, winner of the 13th Craven Filter Miracle Mile on April 6, 1979, also finished his racing days in the US.

That year's Miracle Mile carried basic prizemoney of $60,000, plus $20,000 in time incentives, and was run as the first leg of a TAB feature double with the STC's Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill the following day.

Trained and driven by Graeme Sparkes, The Scotsman (3-1) finished strongly to beat Paleface Adios (5-1) by a metre-and-a-half. Lord Module (13-8 fav.) was a neck away third after locking wheels with Paleface Adios 50 metres from the finishing line.

The Scotsman paced the mile in 2:00.7, which was 2.3 seconds slower than the race record shared by Reichman and Paleface Adios. It is still the slowest winning time in Miracle Mile history.

1980 - LOCARNO

• 1980 - 14th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st LOCARNO (Robin Butt)
• 2nd PURE STEEL (Ted Demmler)
• 3rd PALEFACE ADIOS (Colin Pike)
• Then came: FROSTY IMP (Kevin Robinson), KOALA KING (Brian Hancock), LORD MODULE (Cec Devine).
• Margins: 2 metres x nose
• Winners Rate: 2:00.4

TOUGH WA pacer Pure Steel made a habit of re-writing record books. He was aiming at another record when he stepped out at Harold Park for the 14th running of the Craven Filter Miracle Mile on March 7, 1980.

The only horse to win the WA Pacing Cup four times, and the A. G. Hunter Cup three times, Pure Steel was poised to become the first dual Miracle Mile winner.

It was not going to be easy, however, as the race looked the most open for years, with one of the best sprint fields that could be assembled in Australasia.

For sheer speed, the 1980 Miracle Mile field took some beating.

All six starters - Lord Module, Koala King, Pure Steel, Frosty Imp, Paleface Adios and Locarno - had cracked the two-minute barrier. They could boast 25 sub two-minute miles, with the brilliant, but sometimes erratic, Lord Module topping the list with a 1:54.9 clocking. They had banked $1,966,789 with 281 wins, 129 seconds and 91 thirds from 641 starts.

Basic prizemoney was increased to $65,000, with an additional $15,000 in bonus payments - $5000 for a two-minute mile, an extra $5000 to better the race record of 1:58.4 shared by Reichman and Paleface Adios, and an additional $5000 to better Roma Hanover's track record of 1:57.8.

The trend of slow Miracle Mile times continued, however, when Locarno overcame barrier six to win in 2:00.4, landing a long priced betting plunge into the bargain for his New Zealand trainer driver, Robin Butt.

Although he started at 20-1, bookmakers bet as much as 40-1 about the flashy chestnut, which stormed home from last on the turn to beat Pure Steel (3-1) by two metres, after they ran the last half-mile in 57.5 seconds.

Contesting an unprecedented, and unlikely to be matched, seventh consecutive Miracle Mile, Paleface Adios (16-1), which had been mixing racing with stud duties, was a nose away third. His Miracle Mile record was one win, four seconds, one third and one fifth.

1981 - FRIENDLY FOOTMAN

• 1981 - 15th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st FRIENDLY FOOTMAN (Kevin Newman)
• 2nd LOCARNO (Robin Butt)
• 3rd KOALA KING (Brian Hancock)
• Then came: FROSTY IMP (Kevin Robinson), SATINOVER (Max Johnson), GAMMALITE (Bruce Clarke).
• Margins: 5 metres x 3 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:59.2

WITH the start of the 1980s, Australian Harness Racing reached new heights with the number of feature races growing rapidly. It soon became evident that the arduous four-night Inter-Dominion carnival was taxing many top performers. Showing the strain of racing, some became unavailable for the big Harold Park mile.

It was decided a more appropriate time to stage Australia's premier sprint event would be in January before the Inter-Dominion carnival as almost all the top horses were available to compete.

The 15th Craven Filter Miracle Mile on January 30, 1981, attracted a crowd of 17,739. Drizzling afternoon rain probably cost the club an extra five thousand in patronage. It was the second lowest crowd in the history of the race.

Basic stakemoney was increased to $70,000 with the usual incentives. $10,000 for breaking two minutes, $10,000 for the race record and an additional $10,000 for breaking the track record.

The new time slot almost produced a two-minute field with victory going to the Frank Day-trained and Kevin Newman-driven Friendly Footman. Newman became the first reinsman to win the rich sprint twice after scoring behind Tasmanian champion, Halwes, in 1968.

Friendly Footman (10-1) downed 1980 Miracle Mile winner, Locarno (5-1), by five metres, with Koala King (4-1) three metres away third. Frosty Imp, the 5-2 favourite, finished fourth. It was a very even field, with the last placed horse, Gammalite, recording 2:00.1.

Despite the rain-affected track, five horses ran two minutes or better for the first time in the history of the race. They were Friendly Footman (1:59.2); Locarno (1:59.7); Koala King (Z:00); Frosty Imp (2:00) and Satinover (2:00).

After the race, Kevin Newman declared Friendly Footman would almost certainly have broken the record on a good surface.

1982 - GUNDARY FLYER

• 1982 - 16th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st GUNDARY FLYER (Michael Day)
• 2nd FROSTY IMP (Terry Robinson)
• 3rd DOUBLE AGENT (Joe Ilsley)
• Then came: TIDY JASON (Graham Mood), LORD PANCHO (Kevin Bayley), KOALA KING (Brian Hancock).
• Margins: 3.5 metres x nose
• Winners Rate: 1:56.9 (Race record)

THE 16th Craven Filter Miracle Mile on January 29, 1982, was highlighted by several records, the most important being that for the first time all runners broke two minutes. In fact, the six horses recorded faster than 1:58 - certainly a `miracle' performance.

Prizemoney remained at $100,000, made up of $70,000 basic stakemoney, plus $30,000 in time incentives. There was $10,000 for a two-minute mile; $10,000 to equal or better the race record, and a further $10,000 to equal Popular Alm's track record of 1:55.9.

Popular Alm was installed 7-4 favourite after coming up with gate four at the barrier draw on the Sunday before the big sprint, but had to be scratched after developing filling in his near hock after being off-loaded from a plane at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport on Monday night.

He was replaced in the field by Tidy Jason, making the race an all-New South Wales affair. The first time in the 15-year history of the race that there was not an interstate or New Zealand representative, the race attracted a crowd of 20,173.

Gundary Flyer, trained and driven by Michael Day, became only the second four-year-old to win the prestigious sprint, emulating the feat of Mount Eden in 1971. The similarities did not end there. Like Mount Eden, Gundary Flyer gave trouble in the score-up.

He caused two false starts, and was ordered to start from the extreme outside. Even then, he was many lengths behind the others when the field swept to the starting point.

Private clockers timed Gundary Flyer to run the trip in 1:55.8 as he was at least 20 metres behind the gate at the actual point of despatch. Officially, he was credited with a time of 1:56.9 - 1.5 seconds inside the race record previously shared by Reichman and Paleface Adios.

Gundary Flyer (7-2) was simply magnificent, racing without cover from the 1200 metres before coming away to beat Frosty Imp (7-4) by three-and-a-half metres. Double Agent (5-4 fav.) was a nose away third.

Frosty Imp ran 1:57.3 and was followed in by Double Agent (1:57.3); Tidy Jason (1:57.8); Lord Pancho (1:57.8) and Koala King (1:57.8).

1983 - POPULAR ALM

• 1983 - 17th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st POPULAR ALM (Vin Knight)
• 2nd GAMMALITE (Kevin Robinson)
• 3rd BILLS STUDENT (Terry Robinson)
• Then came: DOUBLE AGENT (Joe Ilsley), COPPER WAY (Ted Demmler), JIKK ADIOS (Brian Hancock).
• Margins: 1.5 metres x 9 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:57.7

FLAMBOYANT Victorian reinsman Vin Knight declared he would be going for the world record when he drove superstar pacer Popular Alm in the 17th Craven Filter Miracle Mile on February 4, 1983. The NSWTC, quick to respond to Knight's boast, arranged for an additional bonus of $20,000 if he could achieve the feat.

Although the club arranged for the extra money to be paid to the winner if he broke the world half-mile track record of 1:54.6 set by Temujin at Delaware, Ohio, the previous September, no one really doubted the winner would be Popular Alm. He was quoted at 1-7 in early markets, making him the shortest pre-post favorite in the race's history.

Carrying basic prizemoney of $70,000, plus original time incentives of $30,000 and the additional $20,000, the winner had the opportunity to take home a cheque for $95,000 - $45,000 first prize; $10,000 for breaking 1:58; $10,000 for a track record of 1:55.9; $10,000 for an Australian time trial record of 1:55.4 and $20,000 for a world record of 1:54.6.

Popular Alm was poised to break a long drought for Victorian trained pacers in the big sprint. No horse prepared south of the Murray River had won the race since Reichman took out the race for Ballarat-based horseman Rex Hocking in a track record 1:58.4 in 1973.

Unbeaten in four Harold Park starts, and the track record holder at 1:55.9, a second faster than the Miracle Mile record, Popular Alm drew barrier four, the most successful alley in the 16-year history of the race.

Once again the entire field bettered the two-minute barrier with Popular Alm starting a prohibitive 2-9 favourite, the shortest priced favourite on record. Facing the breeze for the last lap, Popular Alm wore down arch-rival, Gammalite (12-1), to win by a metre-and-a half Bill's Student (20-1) was nine metres away third.

Popular Alm ran 1:57.7, and was followed in by Gammalite (1:57.9); Bill's Student (1:58.8); Double Agent (1:59.1); Copper Way (1:59.3) and Jikk Adios (1:59.4).

1984 - DOUBLE AGENT

• 1984 - 18th Craven Filter Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st DOUBLE AGENT (Joe Ilsley)
• 2nd BUNDANOON (Brian Hancock)
• 3rd THOR LOBELL (Stephen Dove)
• Then came: TEMPO CAVALLO (Ross Olivieri), KARAMEA DUPLICITY (Brian Forrester), PREUX CHEVALIER (Barry Perkins).
• Margins: half-head x 6 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:59.6

PRIZEMONEY was increased to $130,000 for the 18th Craven Filter Miracle Mile on January 27, 1984, consisting of $100,000 basic stakemoney, plus a $5000 oil painting of the winner if he, or she, equalled the track record of 1:55.9.

There was also an additional $10,000 for the Australian race record of 1:54.5, plus $15,000 for the winner to eclipse the Australian time trial record of 1:53.2. All records were held by Popular Alm.

Although the entire field went inside two-minutes in 1983, a year later, only the winner, the durable 12-year-old gelding Double Agent (1:59.6), and runner-up, Bundanoon (1:59.6), went better than two minutes. Double Agent is still the oldest winner of the big event.

Driven by his 61-year-old trainer, Joe Ilsley, Double Agent (6/1) showed his younger rivals a trick or two when he won. Emotions overflowed as Ilsley and `Old Dub' added a fairy tale chapter to the 18-year-old history of Sydney's premier sprint event.

The large crowd of 20,076 cheered themselves hoarse, as Ilsley drove with all the vigour he could muster over the last 50 metres to get the old gelding home by a half-head from Bundanoon (7-1), driven by Brian Hancock.

A grand victory, it revived memories of the titanic 1974 Miracle Mile when Hondo Grattan wore down Paleface Adios to win in the last few strides.

The Victorian, Thor Lobell (8-1), was six metres away third in 2:00.2 for Stephen Dove, after disputing the lead with top mare Karamea Duplicity through the first quarter in a blistering 26.5 seconds.

Champion Perth pacer, Preux Chevalier, subject to rumours about recurring leg problems in the week leading up to the big sprint, was a prohibitive 8-11 favourite, but raced many lengths below his best form and failed to beat a runner home.

1985 - PREUX CHEVALIER

• 1985 - 19th JPS Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st PREUX CHEVALIER (Barry Perkins)
• 2nd PALEFACE BUBBLE (Colin Pike)
• 3rd WONDAIS MATE (Darryl Reinke)
• Then came: KARAMEA DUPLICITY (Robert Martin), QUITE FAMOUS (Jim O’Sullivan), DYAMA (Kevin Hampton).
• Margins: 9 metres x 3.5 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:56.7 (Race record)

AUSTRALIA'S premier sprint had a change of name in 1985. After 18 years as the Craven Filter Miracle Mile, it became the JPS Miracle Mile, but basically nothing else changed. It was the fastest field yet assembled for the race. The six runners had posted 34 sub two-minute clockings in winning races or time trials.

The biggest crowd of the season was expected to turn out for the 19th running of the glamour race on January 18, 1985. By tradition, patrons would also indulge in a huge betting spree.

Since Robin Dundee won in 1967, the Miracle Mile had always attracted the season's biggest crowd, excluding the Inter-Dominion Final. So far, a total of 376,510 fans had seen the big sprint - an average of 20,917. Collectively, they had wagered $38.1 million on the 18 meetings for an average turnover of $2,114,208.

The 1985 edition attracted a crowd of 17,892. They wagered $611,631 with the on-course tote, and a further $1,431,260 with bookmakers. TAB figures of $1,197,894 took combined turnover to $3,240,785.

An abject failure twelve months earlier, Preux Chevalier and his trainer-driver, Barry Perkins, were back at Harold Park. This time with better results.

Favourite at 11-8, the six-year-old exploded to the lead at the 600 metres after trailing the pace for most of the race, and then treated his five rivals with utter contempt.

He quickly opened up a winning break in the straight and was untroubled to beat Paleface Bubble (20-1), a son of 1976 Miracle Mile winner, Paleface Adios, by nine metres. The Queensland champion, Wondai's Mate (7-2), was three-and-a-half metres away third.

Once again, every runner clocked under two minutes. Preux Chevalier ran a race record 1:56.7, slicing .2 of a second off Gundary Flyer's record set three years earlier.

He was followed in by Paleface Bubble (1:57.6); Wondai's Mate (1:58); Karamea Duplicity (1:58.9); Quite Famous (1:59) and Dyama (1:59.1).

1986 (January) - VILLAGE KID

• 1986 (January) - 20th JPS Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st VILLAGE KID (Chris Lewis)
• 2nd ATASHY LUCK (Chris Gleeson)
• 3rd PALEFACE BUBBLE (Michael Ilsley)
• Then came: QUITE FAMOUS (Jim O’Sullivan), GLENNS THUNDER (Vic Frost), LINDYS NYMPH (Darrell Alexander).
• Margins: 13 metres x 2 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:56.9

PREUX CHEVALIER, which went on to annex the A. G. Hunter Cup and a clean sweep of the Melbourne Inter-Dominion series at Moonee Valley later that season, unfortunately broke down after a New Zealand Cup campaign in November 1985, and never raced in Australia again.

Another WA pacer, Village Kid, was the heir apparent to Preux Chevalier's recently vacated throne. Runner-up to Preux Chevalier in the Inter-Dominion Final, he had come back better than ever and was expected to dominate the JPS Miracle Mile on January 24, 1986.

The five-year-old gelding had won his last seven starts, and had recently raced outside the leader to win his second WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park.

Village Kid could boast 29 wins and 12 placings from 47 starts. He also had 12 sub two-minute miles to his credit.

Although Village Kid was having his first start at Harold Park, which was considered some disadvantage, when he drew the pole, pre-post bookmakers immediately installed him an odds-on favourite for the 20th running of Australia's premier sprint.

Basic stakemoney was increased to $125,000, plus a $5000 oil painting if he, or she, equalled or broke the race record of 1:56.7. There was an additional $25,000 in time incentives. A crowd of 21,227 turned out, and combined turnover for the night, including TAB figures, was $3,428,962.

It took only a breathtaking 1:56.9 for Village Kid, trained by Bill Horn and driven by Chris Lewis, to demonstrate he was the best pacer in Australia when he simply toyed with the top class field.

Favourite at 4-5, Village Kid held the lead into the first bend and gave Lewis an armchair drive, going to the line untouched to beat Atashy Luck (14-1) by 13 metres, with Paleface Bubble (4-1) two metres away third.

Once again all runners bettered two minutes. Village Kid ran the trip in 1:56.9, only .2 of a second outside Preux Chevalier's race record, and was followed in by Atashy Luck (1:57.8); Paleface Bubble (1:58); Quite Famous (1:58.3); Glenn's Thunder (1:58.4) and Lindy's Laodicea (1:58.7).

1986 (December) - MASTER MOOD

• 1986 (December) - 21st JPS Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st MASTER MOOD (Kevin Williams)
• 2nd MY LIGHTNING BLUE (Jim O’Sullivan)
• 3rd VILLAGE KID (Chris Lewis)
• Then came: TRIDENT (John Hay), RIVERLEA JACK (Ted Demmler), PALEFACE BUBBLE (Michael Ilsley) pulled up.
• Margins: 2 metres x 1 metre
• Winners Rate: 1:56.1 (Race record)

VILLAGE KID was seeking a lasting place in history books when he stepped on to Harold Park on December 5, 1986. The gelding was poised to become the first dual winner of the JPS Miracle Mile. If successful, he would create a record which probably would never be equalled.

Because of a reshuffle of Australian Grand Circuit dates, that season's Miracle Mile was brought forward from its traditional January date and run a month earlier, making it the second Miracle Mile for 1986. The race carried basic prizemoney of $140,000, plus a further $30,000 in time incentives.

The big sprint attracted two classy New Zealand performers in Master Mood and Trident, but they both fared poorly in the barrier draw, coming up with gates five and six respectively.

Trained and driven by Kevin Williams, Master Mood had shown his class with a 1:56 victory in a heat of the Inter-Dominion at Albion Park earlier that year. His recent form was impeccable, too, having captured the New Zealand Cup - Air New Zealand Free-For-All feature double at Addington in November.

Trident could boast 12 wins and eight placings from 35 starts and a best time of 1:56.9 at Addington. He was prepared by Brian O'Meara, who grabbed Miracle Mile headlines more than a decade later.

The select six had banked $1,797,040 from 143 wins, 47 seconds and 24 thirds from 296 starts. The fine weather attracted a crowd of 16,268. Combined turnover for the 21st running of the Miracle Mile was $3,017,585.

Bookmakers thought Village Kid could make history as he started 4-9 favourite, but Master Mood (7-1) upset the party when he sprinted home strongly to beat My Lightning Blue (25-1) by two metres. Village Kid was a metre away third.

Master Mood covered the trip in 1:56.1, slicing .6 of a second off Preux Chevalier's race record. My Lightning Blue, credited with a time of 1:56.2, was followed in by Village Kid (1:56.3); Trident (1:56.5) and Riverlea Jack (1:57.6). Only Riverlea Jack and Paleface Bubble, which was pulled up, failed to go under Preux Chevalier's previous record time.

1987 - VILLAGE KID

• 1987 - 22nd Commodore Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st VILLAGE KID (Chris Lewis)
• 2nd HAPPY SUNRISE (Ricky May)
• 3rd JAY BEES FELLA (Fred Kersley)
• Then came: GAY ADAM (David Aiken), WHIRLEY DREAM (Lance Justice), MY LIGHTNING BLUE (Jim O’Sullivan).
• Margins: 3 metres x half-head
• Winners Rate: 1:57.7

THE 1987 Miracle Mile once again underwent a name change. The 22nd running of Australasia's biggest sprint race became the Commodore Miracle Mile. Run on November 27, the name change brought a stakes increase from $170,000 to a record $205,000, made up of basic stakemoney of $175,000, plus $30,000 in time incentives.

The six contestants had raced 325 times for 169 wins, 55 seconds and 26 thirds for $2,463,960. The race gave Village Kid and My Lightning Blue the chance to enter the records books again. Both horses had an Inter-Dominion Championship win to their credit, and were expected to fight out the finish.

If Village Kid won, he would become the first horse to win the race twice. If My Lightning Blue was successful, he would become the first pacer in history to win the Inter-Dominion, New Zealand Cup and Miracle Mile in the same year.

The fine spring night attracted a crowd of 23,166, which saw Village Kid become the first dual Miracle Mile winner. Combined turnover on the meeting was $3,575,978.50.

Shooting for his 13th straight win and 4-7 favourite, Village Kid sped to the front on the first turn and was untroubled to beat Happy Sunrise (16-1) by three metres, with Jay Bee's Fella (11-1) a halfhead away third. Once again every runner bettered two minutes.

Village Kid won in 1:57.7 and was followed home by Happy Sunrise (1:58); Jay Bee's Fella (1:58); Gay Adam (1:58.2); Whirley Dream (1:58.5) and My Lightning Blue (1:58.5).

Chris Lewis joined Kevin Newman as the only drivers to have won the rich sprint twice.

1988 - OUR MAESTRO

• 1988 - 23rd Commodore Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st OUR MAESTRO (Vin Knight)
• 2nd LUXURY LINER (Tony Herlihy)
• 3rd THORATE (Brian Hancock)
• Then came: SPEEDY CHEVAL (Peter Ryder), ROWLEYALLA (Keven Rivett), RIVERLEA JACK (Gavin Lang).
• Margins: 7 metres x 4 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:58.1

PRIZEMONEY for the 23rd running of the Commodore Miracle Mile on November 25, 1988, was a record $250,000, made up of basic prizemoney of $200,000, plus time incentives of $50,000. With record prizemoney on offer, the race attracted record pre-race publicity, mainly on the annual guessing game of trying to pick the field.

The first official invitation was issued to Village Kid, but there was shock news from Perth in the second week of November. Never before in the history of Australia's greatest sprint had an invitation for a start in the event been rejected, but part-owner and trainer, Bill Horn, was about to make history with Village Kid.

According to Horn, a Sydney trip for Village Kid was in doubt due to a wrangle over expenses between the NSWHRC and part-owner, Gordon Cox.

On the other hand, Cox said Horn would not make the trip as he did not want to parade the horse at the barrier draw at the Rosehill races.

The club was desperately keen to have the reigning Miracle Mile Champion at Harold Park, but it was the club's firm policy not to subsidise any runner coming for the race. They did not want to set a precedent in Village Kid's case.

Village Kid, the only pacer to win the Miracle Mile twice, had his invitation withdrawn on Tuesday, November 15, "due to the connections' inability to meet the conditions of the race".

Connections contacted the NSWHRC asking that Village Kid miss the parade and barrier draw at Rosehill Racecourse on Saturday, November 19. Directors voted against the proposal, after a heated debate, and withdrew the invitation.

The bold decision to rescind Village Kid's invitation attracted a mixed reaction. Some were critical of the club's decision, claiming promoters were neglecting their `duty' to ensure the race contained the best six horses available.

There were just as many, however, applauding the club's decision not to provide any more favorable treatment to the connections of the WA star than to connections of other Miracle Mile aspirants.

The race attracted 23,915. For the first time in Miracle Mile history, more than $4 million was invested on the meeting with combined turnover of $4,285,827.

Vin Knight and Our Maestro wrote themselves into the record books with an effortless win. Knight, who won the race with Popular Alm in 1983, became the third reinsman to win the prestigious sprint event twice, joining Kevin Newman and Chris Lewis.

Favourite at 10-9, Our Maestro worked to the front soon after the start and was untroubled to beat Luxury Liner (7-2) by seven metres, with Thorate (16-1) four metres away third. The first five placegetters broke two minutes, with Our Maestro stopping the clock at 1:58.1.

1989 - WESTBURN GRANT

• 1989 - 24th Coca-Cola Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st WESTBURN GRANT (Vic Frost)
• 2nd THORATE (Brian Hancock)
• 3rd JODIES BABE (Vin Knight)
• Then came: LUXURY LINER (Tony Herlihy), EARTH STATION (Kevin Thomas), KOALA SUNRISE (Tess Gleeson).
• Margins: 8 metres x 3.5 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:57.9

ONE of the longest sponsorship arrangements in the history of Australian sport ended with the running of the Commodore Miracle Mile on November 25,1989. It was the 23rd running of the premier sprint event, and the 23rd year the race was sponsored by W. D. & H. O. Wills.

The tobacco company was there from the outset in 1967. The race was known as the Craven Filter Miracle Mile for 18 years, then had three years as the JPS Miracle Mile and finally two years as the Commodore Miracle Mile.

Following a Federal and State Government clampdown on tobacco advertising, Wills and the NSWHRC ended their association in the 1988 Commodore Miracle Mile.

The NSWHRC turned to Coca-Cola for support and that company readily accepted the offer. The 24th running of Australia's most prestigious sprint on November 24, 1989, became the CocaCola Bottlers Miracle Mile. Although the name of the race changed slightly, nothing else did, especially the annual guessing game of trying to pick the field. Once again the committee of the NSWHRC did not have an easy task.

The select six had raced 414 times for 167 wins and 115 placings for $3,394,208. The race attracted a crowd of 23,991, with combined turnover of $4,314,712.

History was made that year when Tess Gleeson partnered Koala Sunrise to become the first woman to drive in the feature event. Gleeson's Miracle Mile dreams turned into a nightmare, however, when Koala Sunrise got onto the sulky wheel of Jodie's Babe soon after the start and broke before finishing last.

Vic Frost grabbed his share of history when he won with the brilliant four-year-old Westburn Grant. Joining Kevin Newman, Chris Lewis and Vin Knight as a dual winner of the race, Frost won the Miracle Mile almost two decades earlier behind Lucky Creed in 1970.

Favourite at 5-4, Westburn Grant became the third four-year-old to win the Miracle Mile, joining Mount Eden and Gundary Flyer, with a blistering first quarter that sapped the strength of his five rivals.

Charging out of the gate, Westburn Grant matched strides with Thorate at a breakneck speed through the first quarter. Two talented pacers and two champion reinsmen - Vic Frost and Brian Hancock - staged a virtual war for the first 400 metres, carving out a phenomenal 26.2 seconds - the fastest first quarter recorded at Harold Park.

Westburn Grant headed off Thorate, and when Frost was able to get away with a couple of `slow quarters', the race was as good as over.

Sprinting home in 28.7 seconds, Westburn Grant was untroubled to beat a courageous Thorate (9-4) by eight metres, with Jodie's Babe (5-1) three-and-a-half metres away third. Westburn Grant stopped the clock in 1:57.9.

1990 - WESTBURN GRANT

• 1990 - 25th Coca-Cola Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st WESTBURN GRANT (Vic Frost)
• 2nd ALMETA BOY (Stephen Dove)
• 3rd DEFOE (Robert Dunn)
• Then came: THORATE (Brian Hancock), SINBAD BAY (Vin Knight), TIGHT CONNECTION (Tony Herlihy).
• Margins: 6 metres x nose
• Winners Rate: 1:55.6 (Track record)

TWELVE months later, Westburn Grant and Vic Frost were chasing further glory in the Coca-Cola Miracle Mile on November 30, 1990. Westburn Grant was hoping to join Village Kid as a dual Miracle Mile winner, while Frost was shooting for a record third win in the famous sprint.

The six starters had posted 141 wins, 64 placings and $3,077,184 from 284 starts. They were racing for basic stakemoney of $250,000, plus $50,000 in time incentives.

For the first time in history, the entire field went under 1:57, with Westburn Grant turning in a race record 1:55.6 - shaving .5 of a second off Master Mood's race record, and .3 of a second off Popular Alm's track record.

Charging out of barrier two, Westburn Grant passed the first light in 27.3 seconds. The middle half of the race was just as imposing. The half-mile from the 400-metre point to the 1200-metre mark was covered in 57.9.

Westburn Grant ran the second quarter in 29.7, before slipping up the back straight in 28.1. With his main danger, Thorate, on his back, Frost waited patiently until the home turn before asking Westburn Grant for his final effort.

Favourite at 4-6, Westburn Grant raced away to win by six metres from Almeta Boy (16-1), with Defoe (20-1) a nose away third.

Almeta Boy turned in an incredible performance after galloping at the start and losing about 30 metres. On face value, Tight Connection was disappointing in finishing last, but he was no more than two lengths from the placegetters in 1:56.5 - a time that would have been good enough to win most Miracle Miles.

Westburn Grant picked up $180,000, including $20,000 for breaking Popular Alm's track record. That boosted his earnings to $1,148,411 from 29 wins in only 40 starts - an amazing $28,710 each time he stepped on to the track.

Thorate also joined Village Kid, Gammalite and Westburn Grant in the millionaire bracket by finishing fourth to take his stakes tally to $1,004,268.

1991 - CHRISTOPHER VANCE

• 1991 - 26th Coca-Cola Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st CHRISTOPHER VANCE (Tony Herlihy)
• 2nd DEFOE (Robert Dunn)
• 3rd WESTBURN GRANT (Vic Frost)
• Then came: FRANCO TIGER (Gavin Lang), TIP TOP PRINCE (John Justice), CHOKIN (Brian Gath) fell.
• Margins: 5 metres x 6 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:57.2

WESTBURN GRANT, in line for an unprecedented Miracle Mile hat-trick, was the first horse invited to contest the race on November 29, 1991. Tragically, the entire five-year-old career was dramatically cut short soon after winning the WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park on January 4, 1991.

He fractured the pastern bone in his near hind leg, but following an operation at Murdoch University, he returned to the racetrack with four surgical screws in the leg to hold the pastern together.

That Miracle Mile was noteworthy for reasons other than the comeback of Westburn Grant, however. For instance the controversial omission of tough Kiwi pacer Franco Ice, and the equally controversial inclusion of the brilliant Chokin, which became the first three-year-old to start in the rich sprint.

The omission of Franco Ice, which had beaten Westburn Grant in a world record 1:55.1 in the Queensland Pacing Championship at Albion Park in October, caused Australia-wide controversy.

It also led to a miserable weekend for Victorian trainer-driver Graeme Lang. He was denied the chance to win his first Miracle Mile, and lost the horse he thought could do it.

When NSWHRC directors left Franco Ice out of the field, they astonished Lang, and many fans across the country. To make matters worse, the owners of Franco Ice arrived at Lang's Melton stables on Saturday, the day after the Miracle Mile field was announced, and took the horse away.

While Franco Ice was home in his box, six of Australasia's best pacers, which could boast earnings of $3,488,818 from 131 wins and 67 placings from 217 starts, were chasing a record $400,000 in stakemoney and time incentives.

Basic prizemoney was increased to $300,000, with time incentives of $25,000 for breaking Westburn Grant's track record of 1:55.6, plus $75,000 to better Thorate's Australian record of 1:53.9.

Westburn Grant started even money favourite, but had to be content with third behind the New Zealanders, Christopher Vance (7-2) and Defoe (15-I), beaten five metres and six metres. Trained by Barry and Roy Purdon and driven by Tony Herlihy, Christopher Vance ran the trip in 1:57.2, while his stablemate, Chokin, crashed heavily to the track on the home turn, totally exhausted.

Chokin went roughly in his gear when the starter released the field and galloped, losing several lengths. Recovering from that early bungle, Brian Gath took off three-wide with Chokin coming to the bell, but that was as close as he got.

Gath said the youngster had been overawed by the occasion and the close proximity of the Harold Park crowd. "The occasion was too much for him," Gath said. "He was a frightened little boy, and I doubt that another three-year-old will ever be invited to start in a Miracle Mile."

1992 - FRANCO TIGER

• 1992 - 27th Coca-Cola Miracle Mile (1609m)
• 1st FRANCO TIGER (Brian Gath)
• 2nd CHRISTOPHER VANCE (Tony Herlihy)
• 3rd JACK MORRIS (Sean Harney)
• Then came: WESTBURN GRANT (Vic Frost), IMPRESSIONIST (Ted Demmler), LEVEL ADVICE (Andrew Peace).
• Margins: 2.5 metres x 5 metres
• Winners Rate: 1:56.7

EARLY speculation on the annual guessing game of selecting the field for the 1992 Coca-Cola Miracle Mile was dominated by a then relatively unknown Western Australian pacer named Jack Morris. "Jack Who?" screamed the banner headlines, as few people outside Perth had heard of the Sean Harney-trained star.

Sensational times at recent starts, however, including some startling wins, had Jack Morris primed for a late invitation to compete against the best pacers in Australasia.

Harney had already tasted Grand Circuit success, guiding Tarport Sox to victory over Whitby Timer and Jodie's Babe in the 1990 WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park.

Stakemoney for the 27th running of Australasia's most prestigious sprint remained at $300,000, with an additional $100,000 in bonuses. The field could boast earnings of $4,685,937, the result of 168 wins, 73 seconds and 32 thirds from 352 starts.

The Glen Tippet-trained Franco Tiger, driven by Brian Gath, surged to his third consecutive Grand Circuit victory for the season in the most open Miracle Mile on record. Franco Tiger (13-4) led throughout to win by two-and-a-half metres from Christopher Vance (3-1), with Jack Morris (8-1) five metres away third.

Franco Tiger clocked 1:56.7, leaving his opponents with no excuses, although a history-making protest by Harney on behalf of Jack Morris may have suggested otherwise.

The first protest in the 27-year history of the Miracle Mile, Harney alleged interference by the winner on the first turn cost him the chance of leading, and ultimately, his chance of winning. After a hearing lasting nine minutes, the objection was dismissed.

After that controversial third, Sean Harraey declared the gelding would get better and we would be hearing a lot more about Jack Morris. Well we certainly did, and more about Harney, too.

Jack Morris was voted Australian Harness Horse of the Year for 1992-93. He was also the leading stake earner in the country with $526,430 from 11 wins from 18 starts that season.

At his next start after the 1992 Miracle Mile, Jack Morris led throughout to win the M H Treuer Memorial at Bankstown, beating Band Magic and Christopher Vance with Miracle Mile winner, Franco Tiger, fifth. Later in the season, Jack Morris beat Warrior Khan and Blossom Lady in the Inter-Dominion Final at Albion Park.

More results are available by clicking here.