The Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile is a Group One race for pacing horses raced at Alexandra Park, Auckland in New Zealand.
| Group I race | |
| Location | Alexandra Park Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1986 |
| Race type | Standardbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1609m |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Right-handed oval |
| Qualification | four-year-old horses |
| Purse | NZ $110,000 (2024) |
It is currently held over the distance of 1609 metres (one mile). From 2007 to 2018 it was raced over 1700m.
Traditionally the race was only for 4 year old pacers. However, from 2013 to 2015 the race was also open to five-year-olds. For the 2022 event it was opened up to all pacers.
As well as being a major event in its own right, it is also the key lead-up to the New Zealand Messenger run the following week.
The 2024 event was won by the "free legged" nine-year-old Mach Shard, driven by a junior driver Crystal Hackett at odds of $151.
Race results
edit| Year |
Month |
Winner |
Owner(s) |
Driver |
Time (distance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Apr | Mach Shard[1] | Mrs K J Purdon, Mrs C Nausbaum, Mrs T L Whittaker | Crystal Hackett (J)[2] | 1:53.9 (1609m) |
| 2023 | Apr | Akuta | Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 1:53.80 (1609m) |
| 2022 | Apr | Spankem | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, J A Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, G A Woodham, Mrs K J Woodham | Natalie Rasmussen | 1:52.22 (1609m) |
| 2021 | Apr | Copy That | M W & Mrs M T Butterworth | Maurice McKendry | 1:54.57 (1609m) |
| 2019 | Apr | Spankem | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, J A Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, G A Woodham, Mrs K J Woodham | Natalie Rasmussen | 1:53.4 (1609m) |
| 2018 | Apr | A G's White Socks | G P Hope, P G Laboyrie, P I Baken, Mrs V M Robertson, W R Stewart, Mrs C L Stewart, A R Pullar, Mrs B E Pullar | Ricky May | 2:00.3 (1700m) |
| 2017 | Apr | Lazarus | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, T G Casey, K J Riseley | Mark Purdon | 2:00.0 (1700m) |
| 2016 | Apr | Field Marshall | Mrs SA Brown, S B Brown | Dexter Dunn | 1:59.5 (1700m) |
| 2015 | Apr | Mossdale Conner | A G Affleck | Maurice McKendry | 1:58.1 (1700m) |
| 2014 | May | Besotted | Lincoln Farms | Simon Lawson | 2:00.0 (1700m) |
| 2013 | Apr | Christen Me | C J Roberts, V L Purdon | Dexter Dunn | 2:01.5 (1700m) |
| 2012 | Apr | Terror to Love | T McDonald | Anthony Butt | 2:03.3 (1700m) |
| 2011 | Apr | Gomeo Romeo | L T Henwood | David Butcher | 2:04.0 (1700m) |
| 2010 | Apr | Second Wind | G M Adlam | Gavin Smith | 2:02.9 (1700m) |
| 2009 | Apr | Auckland Reactor | Auckland Reactor Ltd | Blair Orange | 2:01.8 (1700m) |
| 2008 | Apr | Changeover | A.T.C. Trot 2006 Syndicate | David Butcher | 2:03.7 (1700m) |
| 2007 | Apr | Divisive | C E Rixon | Peter Rixon | 2:00.9 (1700m) |
| 2006 | Apr | Mainland Banner | I D Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne Umar | Ricky May | 1:55.1 (1609m) |
| 2005 | Apr | V For S | L Taylor, M G Berger | Philip Butcher | 1:55.7 (1609m) |
| 2004 | Apr | Elsu | Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P Small | David Butcher | 1:55.0 (1609m) |
| 2003 | Apr | Just An Excuse | O Haines, Mrs I K Haines | Todd Mitchell | 1:55.6 (1609m) |
| 2002 | Apr | Alert Motoring | Robert Reid Syndicate | Brent Mangos | 1:54.1 (1609m) |
| 2001 | Mar | Cool Hand Luke | R S Croon/M Purdon/T R Vince/J H Seaton | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.6 (1609m) |
| 2000 | Mar | Mac De Stroyer | N F MacFarlane, Mrs L M MacFarlane | Todd Macfarlane | 1:54.6 (1609m) |
| 1999 | Apr | Ho Wong | Mrs S E McKendry | Maurice McKendry | 1:55.7 (1609m) |
| 1998 | Apr | Scuse Me | J S Dalgety, Mrs V L Purdon | Frank Cooney | 1:53.5 (1609m) |
| 1997 | Apr | Agua Caliente | D S & Mrs D E J Short/Mrs D E Woods/Miss S M Short | Glen Wolfenden | 1:56.4 (1609m) |
| 1996 | Feb | Surprise Package | Mrs K J Purdon | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.6 (1609m) |
| 1995 | Feb | The Suleiman | J P Green, T G Garelja | Michael Langdon | 1:57.0 (1609m) |
| 1994 | Feb | Hitchcock | L Christensen/W Pengelly/J Richardson/N Taylor | Maurice McKendry | 1:57.6 (1609m) |
| 1993 | Feb | Tigerish | L A Turner, Mrs P L Turner | James Stormont | 1:58.7 (1609m) |
| 1992 | Feb | Abdias | J Butcher, Mrs C M Butcher | Philip Butcher | 1:55.0 (1609m) |
| 1991 | Feb | Christopher Vance | R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.4 (1609m) |
| 1990 | Feb | Defoe | Club Classic Lucky 7 Syndicate | Robert Mitchell | 1:56.9 (1609m) |
| 1989 | Feb | Kiwi Supreme | J M Cunningham | Stephen Dove | 1:57.4 (1609m) |
| 1988 | Mar | Elmer Gantry | T Milina, R Evans | Tony Milina | 1:56.7 (1609m) |
| 1987 | Apr | Jay Bee's Fella | P R Smythe | Peter Wolfenden | 1:56.8 (1609m) |
| 1986 | Mar | Master Mood | K L Williams, Mrs B A Williams, S F Wong, F B Wong | Kevin Williams | 1:57.5 (1609m) |
Other major races
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ Reid, Brad (April 26, 2024). "$151 upset in sensational Taylor Mile - Harnesslink".
- ^ "From last to first: Junior driver's shock win at Alexandra Park". NZ Herald. May 5, 2024.