Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile

The Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile is a Group One race for pacing horses raced at Alexandra Park, Auckland in New Zealand.

Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile

Group I race
Location	Alexandra Park Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1986
Race type	Standardbred - Flat racing
Website	www.alexandrapark.co.nz
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

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

• Auckland Trotting Cup
• New Zealand Trotting Cup
• New Zealand Free For All
• Great Northern Derby
• Dominion Handicap
• Rowe Cup
• New Zealand Messenger
• Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
• Inter Dominion Trotting Championship
• Miracle Mile Pace

See also

• Harness racing
• Harness racing in New Zealand

References

1. Reid, Brad (April 26, 2024). "$151 upset in sensational Taylor Mile - Harnesslink".
2. "From last to first: Junior driver's shock win at Alexandra Park". NZ Herald. May 5, 2024.

• "Harness Racing New Zealand".