Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile
# Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile

The Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile is a Group One race for pacing horses in New Zealand.

It is currently held over the distance of 1609 metres (one mile) once a year at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand. 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.

## Winners list

| Year | Month | Distance | Horse | Owner(s) | Driver | Time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2023 | Apr | 1609 | Akuta | Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 1:53.80 |
| 2022 | Apr | 1609 | 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 |
| 2021 | Apr | 1609 | Copy That | M W & Mrs M T Butterworth | Maurice McKendry | 1:54.57 |
| 2019 | Apr | 1609 | 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 |
| 2018 | Apr | 1700 | 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 |
| 2017 | Apr | 1700 | Lazarus | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, T G Casey, K J Riseley | Mark Purdon | 2:00.0 |
| 2016 | Apr | 1700 | Field Marshall | Mrs SA Brown, S B Brown | Dexter Dunn | 1:59.5 |
| 2015 | Apr | 1700 | Mossdale Conner | A G Affleck | Maurice McKendry | 1:58.1 |
| 2014 | May | 1700 | Besotted | Lincoln Farms | Simon Lawson | 2:00.0 |
| 2013 | Apr | 1700 | Christen Me | C J Roberts, V L Purdon | Dexter Dunn | 2:01.5 |
| 2012 | Apr | 1700 | Terror to Love | T McDonald | Anthony Butt | 2:03.3 |
| 2011 | Apr | 1700 | Gomeo Romeo | L T Henwood | David Butcher | 2:04.0 |
| 2010 | Apr | 1700 | Second Wind | G M Adlam | Gavin Smith | 2:02.9 |
| 2009 | Apr | 1700 | Auckland Reactor | Auckland Reactor Ltd | Blair Orange | 2:01.8 |
| 2008 | Apr | 1700 | Changeover | A.T.C. Trot 2006 Syndicate | David Butcher | 2:03.7 |
| 2007 | Apr | 1700 | Divisive | C E Rixon | Peter Rixon | 2:00.9 |
| 2006 | Apr | 1609 | Mainland Banner | I D Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne Umar | Ricky May | 1:55.1 |
| 2005 | Apr | 1609 | V For S | L Taylor, M G Berger | Philip Butcher | 1:55.7 |
| 2004 | Apr | 1609 | Elsu | Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P Small | David Butcher | 1:55.0 |
| 2003 | Apr | 1609 | Just An Excuse | O Haines, Mrs I K Haines | Todd Mitchell | 1:55.6 |
| 2002 | Apr | 1609 | Alert Motoring | Robert Reid Syndicate | Brent Mangos | 1:54.1 |
| 2001 | Mar | 1609 | Cool Hand Luke | R S Croon/M Purdon/T R Vince/J H Seaton | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.6 |
| 2000 | Mar | 1609 | Mac De Stroyer | N F MacFarlane, Mrs L M MacFarlane | Todd Macfarlane | 1:54.6 |
| 1999 | Apr | 1609 | Ho Wong | Mrs S E McKendry | Maurice McKendry | 1:55.7 |
| 1998 | Apr | 1609 | Scuse Me | J S Dalgety, Mrs V L Purdon | Frank Cooney | 1:53.5 |
| 1997 | Apr | 1609 | Agua Caliente | D S & Mrs D E J Short/Mrs D E Woods/Miss S M Short | Glen Wolfenden | 1:56.4 |
| 1996 | Feb | 1609 | Surprise Package | Mrs K J Purdon | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.6 |
| 1995 | Feb | 1609 | The Suleiman | J P Green, T G Garelja | Michael Langdon | 1:57.0 |
| 1994 | Feb | 1609 | Hitchcock | L Christensen/W Pengelly/J Richardson/N Taylor | Maurice McKendry | 1:57.6 |
| 1993 | Feb | 1609 | Tigerish | L A Turner, Mrs P L Turner | James Stormont | 1:58.7 |
| 1992 | Feb | 1609 | Abdias | J Butcher, Mrs C M Butcher | Philip Butcher | 1:55.0 |
| 1991 | Feb | 1609 | Christopher Vance | R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid | Tony Herlihy | 1:55.4 |
| 1990 | Feb | 1609 | Defoe | Club Classic Lucky 7 Syndicate | Robert Mitchell | 1:56.9 |
| 1989 | Feb | 1609 | Kiwi Supreme | J M Cunningham | Stephen Dove | 1:57.4 |
| 1988 | Mar | 1609 | Elmer Gantry | T Milina, R Evans | Tony Milina | 1:56.7 |
| 1987 | Apr | 1609 | Jay Bee's Fella | P R Smythe | Peter Wolfenden | 1:56.8 |
| 1986 | Mar | 1609 | Master Mood | K L Williams, Mrs B A Williams, S F Wong, F B Wong | Kevin Williams | 1:57.5 |

## 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
