MEMORIAL MILE
The Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile is a one-mile Group One harness race for pacing horses at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand. Horses compete 1609 metres on a dirt, right-handed oval, with the event positioned near the top tier of New Zealand standardbred racing. It typically attracts four-year-old pacers, aligning with the race’s traditional identity, although entry rules have been broadened on occasion. Most refer to it simply as the Noel Taylor Mile or the Taylor Mile. The race originated in the 1980s and occurs one week before the New Zealand Messenger, serving as both a significant goal and a rigorous test before another key Auckland event. It has not consistently been a pure mile; for a period, it was contested over 1700 metres. A notable recent occurrence involved a $151 outsider winning with a junior driver, a result that underscores the unpredictable nature of a short, high-class harness race.
