Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile, often referred to as the "Noel Taylor Mile" or "Taylor Mile", is a Group One race for pacing horses raced at Alexandra Park, Auckland in New Zealand.
ClassGroup I
LocationAlexandra Park
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated1986
Race typeStandardbred - Flat racing
| Class | Group I |
|---|---|
| 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) |
The Noel Taylor Mile 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 Noel Taylor Mile was won by the "free legged" nine-year-old Mach Shard, driven by a junior driver Crystal Hackett at odds of $151.
Race results
Previous winners and placegetters of the Noel Taylor Mile include:[1]
| Year |
Month |
Winner |
Owner(s) |
Driver |
Time (distance) | 2nd |
3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Apr | The Lazarus Effect | Alabar Racing Syndicate 2022 | Bob Butt | 1:54.7 (1609m) | Got The Chocolates | Swayzee |
| 2025 | Apr | We Walk By Faith | Dennis and Mark Dunford | Matthew White | 1:51.6 (1609m) | Republican Party | Rakero Rocket |
| 2024 | Apr | Mach Shard[2] | Mrs K J Purdon, Mrs C Nausbaum, Mrs T L Whittaker | Crystal Hackett (J)[3][4] | 1:53.9 (1609m) | Don't Stop Dreaming | Merlin[5] |
| 2023 | Apr | Akuta[6] | Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 1:53.80 (1609m) | Self Assured | Better Eclipse |
| 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) | Hot And Treacherous | Self Assured |
| 2021 | Apr | Copy That | M W & Mrs M T Butterworth | Maurice McKendry | 1:54.57 (1609m) | Bad To The Bone | Steel The Show |
| 2019 | Apr | Spankem[7] | 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) | Turn It Up | Mach Shard |
| 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) | Eamon Maguire | Star Galleria |
| 2017 | Apr | Lazarus[8] | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, Trevor Casey, K J Riseley | Mark Purdon | 2:00.0 (1700m) | Waikiki Beach | Golden Goddess |
| 2016 | Apr | Field Marshal[9] | Mrs SA Brown, S B Brown | Dexter Dunn | 1:59.5 (1700m) | Tas Man Bromac | Robbie Burns |
| 2015 | Apr | Mossdale Conner | A G Affleck | Maurice McKendry | 1:58.1 (1700m) | Border Control | Ohoka Punter |
| 2014 | May | Besotted | Lincoln Farms | Simon Lawson | 2:00.0 (1700m) | Elios | Adore Me |
| 2013 | Apr | Christen Me | C J Roberts, V L Purdon | Dexter Dunn | 2:01.5 (1700m) | Gold Ace | Bettor Cover Lover |
| 2012 | Apr | Terror to Love | T McDonald | Anthony Butt | 2:03.3 (1700m) | Bettor Cover Lover | Gold Ace |
| 2011 | Apr | Gomeo Romeo | L T Henwood | David Butcher | 2:04.0 (1700m) | Smiling Shard | Mach Banner |
| 2010 | Apr | Second Wind | G M Adlam | Gavin Smith | 2:02.9 (1700m) | Sleepy Tripp | Bonavista Bay |
| 2009 | Apr | Auckland Reactor | Auckland Reactor Ltd | Blair Orange | 2:01.8 (1700m) | Georgetown | Pembrook Benny |
| 2008 | Apr | Changeover | A.T.C. Trot 2006 Syndicate | David Butcher | 2:03.7 (1700m) | Gotta Go Cullen | Mr Molly |
| 2007 | Apr | Divisive | C E Rixon | Peter Rixon | 2:00.9 (1700m) | Power Of Tara | Monkey King |
| 2006 | Apr | Mainland Banner | Ian Dobson,[10][11] S J Dobson, Lynne Umar | Ricky May | 1:55.1 (1609m) | Baileys Dream | Hippity Hop |
| 2005 | Apr | V For | L Taylor, Mike Berger | Philip Butcher | 1:55.7 (1609m) | Romeos Legend | Likmesiah |
| 2004 | Apr | Elsu | Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P Small | David Butcher | 1:55.0 (1609m) | London Legend | Miracle Man |
| 2003 | Apr | Just An Excuse | O Haines, Mrs I K Haines | Todd Mitchell | 1:55.6 (1609m) | All Hart | Jagged Account |
| 2002 | Apr | Alert Motoring | Robert Reid Syndicate | Brent Mangos | 1:54.1 (1609m) | Eagles Together | Franco Heir |
| 2001 | Mar | Cool Hand Luke | R S Croon/M Purdon/T R Vince/J H Seaton | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.6 (1609m) | Tupelo Rose | Dancingonmoonlight |
| 2000 | Mar | Mac De Stroyer | N F MacFarlane, Mrs L M MacFarlane | Todd Macfarlane | 1:54.6 (1609m) | Pocket Me | Classic Turbo |
| 1999 | Apr | Ho Wong | Mrs Susan McKendry | Maurice McKendry[12] | 1:55.7 (1609m) | New York Fella | Homin Hosed |
| 1998 | Apr | Scuse Me | J S Dalgety, Mrs V L Purdon | Frank Cooney | 1:53.5 (1609m) | OK Royal | Kate's First |
| 1997 | Apr | Agua Caliente[13] | D S & Mrs D E J Short, Mrs D E Woods, Miss S M Short | Glen Wolfenden | 1:56.4 (1609m) | Captain Rufus | Acknowledge |
| 1996 | Feb | Surprise Package | Mrs K J Purdon | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.6 (1609m) | Il Vicolo | Grinaldi |
| 1995 | Feb | The Suleiman | J P Green, T G Garelja | Michael Langdon | 1:57.0 (1609m) | Rare Touch | Ermis |
| 1994 | Feb | Hitchcock | L Christensen, W Pengelly, J Richardson, N Taylor | Maurice McKendry | 1:57.6 (1609m) | Montana Vance | Camberley Octane |
| 1993 | Feb | Tigerish | L A Turner, Mrs P L Turner | James Stormont | 1:58.7 (1609m) | Kurahaupo Lord | San Sabriel |
| 1992 | Feb | Abdias | J Butcher, Mrs C M Butcher | Philip Butcher | 1:55.0 (1609m) | Tartan Clansman | Air Supply |
| 1991 | Feb | Christopher Vance | R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.4 (1609m) | Mark Hanover | Franco Ice |
| 1990 | Feb | Defoe | Club Classic Lucky 7 Syndicate | Robert Mitchell | 1:56.9 (1609m) | National Glory | Franco Gold |
| 1989 | Feb | Kiwi Supreme | J M Cunningham | Stephen Dove | 1:57.4 (1609m) | National Image | Speed King |
| 1988 | Mar | Elmer Gantry | T Milina, R Evans | Tony Milina | 1:56.7 (1609m) | Tax Credit | Bold Sharvid |
| 1987 | Apr | Jay Bee's Fella | P R Smythe | Peter Wolfenden | 1:56.8 (1609m) | Lord Lenny | Sharlene's Pride |
| 1986 | Mar | Master Mood | K L Williams, Mrs B A Williams, S F Wong, F B Wong | Kevin Williams | 1:57.5 (1609m) | Quiet Touch | Kurahaupo Eden |