Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile

Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile

Class	Group I
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)

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.

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 winers and placegetters of the Noel Taylor Mile include ^[1] :

Year	Month	Winner	Owner(s)	Driver	Time (distance)	2nd	3rd
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, T G 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

Other major races

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

See also

• Harness racing
• Harness racing in New Zealand

References

1. "HRNZ website - Taylor Mile (Group 1)". www.hrnz.co.nz. Retrieved Apr 8, 2025.
2. Reid, Brad (April 26, 2024). "$151 upset in sensational Taylor Mile - Harnesslink".
3. "From last to first: Junior driver's shock win at Alexandra Park". The New Zealand Herald . May 5, 2024.
4. "Hackett's fairytale win with Mach Shard". www.hrnz.co.nz. Retrieved Apr 8, 2025.
5. Guerin, Michael (Apr 26, 2024). "Opening 200m is key to Merlin's Taylor Mile chances - Harnesslink" . Retrieved Apr 8, 2025.
6. Jost, Carole (Apr 23, 2023). "Mark & Nathan Purdon quinella the Group 1 Dawson Harford Limited Taylor Mile". Alexandra Park. Retrieved Apr 8, 2025.
7. Turner, Jonny (Apr 26, 2019). "Spankem strong chance in Taylor Mile". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved Apr 8, 2025.
8. ""It's all too easy for Lazarus as he takes out the Taylor Mile"". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved Apr 8, 2025.
9. ""Field marshal shows high speed in mile win"". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved Apr 8, 2025.
10. "Vale Ian Dobson - Harnesslink". Oct 16, 2023. Retrieved Apr 10, 2025.
11. "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved Apr 10, 2025.
12. "Maurie Mac talks Methven and the Taylor Mile". www.hrnz.co.nz. Retrieved Apr 9, 2025.
13. "Vale Agua Caliente". www.hrnz.co.nz. Retrieved Apr 10, 2025.