Wash up from Miracle Mile day at Menangle

Harness racing's big day out yesterday at Menangle lived up to all the pre meeting hype with a raceday that will live long in the memory of the harness racing enthusiasts who were lucky enough to be there.

The Miracle Mile was built up to what seemed ridiculous heights by a lot of the pundits pre race but amazingly the race delivered everything it promised and more.

A race decided in the last stride in a brilliant 1:47.5 was a promoters dream and showed yet again how good our top grand circuit horses have become.

That huge speed gap with our Northern Hemisphere horses is disappearing quicker than the Artic Sea Ice and that can only be a major positive for harness racing in Australasia.

When you look at the progress being made with regards to time right through the age group classes and on up to the Grand Circuit level, the rate of improvement has been huge since Menangle opened and it doesn't look like it has flattened out yet.

The whole day yesterday was filled with racing of the highest class with most of the best horses in their age group or class in Australasia competing which made for some terrific contests all day.

Yes, the All Star juggernaut won four group ones but none of them bar Dream About Me were easy victories and all seemed vulnerable at different stages during their races which doesn't happen very often.

As a first time visitor to Tabcorp Park Menangle yesterday, it is just a stunning development with a track and stable complex without peer in Australasia.

Parts of the complex are still a work in progress but long term it has potential to be something very special for harness racing down under.

The thing that really impressed this long in the tooth cynical journalist was how helpful the staff were on track.

It was so refreshing to strike such a level of service on such a busy and stressful day for staff and a special note would have to be sent the way of the security personal on duty yesterday.

They went out of their way at all times to be helpful and not hinder you which is what you normally strike at events like yesterday's meeting.

They got the balance between security and access spot on and for that the management should take a bow.

The whole day had a great feel to it and Miracle Mile day at Menangle has the potential to grow into the New Zealand Cup day equivalent for harness racing enthusiasts in Australia.

The last two years have seen 1:48 broken on Miracle Mile raceday which means I am already planning to back at Menangle next year to hopefully see a bigger and stronger Have Faith In Me lower that mark even further.

Harnesslink Media