Leap To Fame wins his second Miracle Mile at Club Menangle

Queensland pacer Leap To Fame won the Group 1 Garrards Miracle Mile at Club Menangle on Saturday 14 March 2026, his second. Harness Racing Update reported a mile rate of 1:49.0, with fellow Queenslander The Janitor half a neck behind — some reports called it a head — and defending champion Don Hugo third. The seven-year-old raced three wide early, then sat exposed outside the leader, and held on.

It was his second Miracle Mile after 2024, when he rated 1:48.3, following a runner-up finish to Don Hugo in 2025. Trade reports put it as his 15th Group 1, one short of the Down Under record of 16 shared by Lazarus and Westburn Grant, and his record after the race at 85 starts for 66 wins and 17 placings, with earnings of $5,883,234.

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon, who prepares the horse with co-trainer Trista Dixon, was quoted saying he never thought he would have a horse good enough to contest these races. Owner Kevin Seymour, who races him with his wife Kay, would not be drawn on retirement on the night.

The card also carried the Yabby Dam Farms Hammerhead Trotters Mile and the Slingsby Holdings NSW Derby.

Update: he did not retire

At the Inter Dominion pacing final at Albion Park on 18 July 2026, Leap To Fame — Inter Dominion champion in 2023 and 2025 — was beaten into second by the mare Captains Mistress, who led throughout and broke the track record with a 1:51.8 mile rate. He finished about 1.2 metres behind after settling last early.

Harnesslink reported that his connections have postponed retirement rather than call time, with Grand Circuit targets ahead. No return date at Menangle has been published.

If you want to see the next one

As at 30 August 2026 Club Menangle had not published a date or prizemoney for the next Garrards Miracle Mile or TAB Carnival of Miracles. Its What’s On calendar lists nothing beyond the TAB Eureka on 21 November 2026. The Feature Races page describes a “$1 Million Miracle Mile” without giving a year.

Reported dates put the 2026 carnival across the first two Saturdays of March — Livamol Chariots of Fire on 7 March, Miracle Mile on 14 March. For the next carnival’s dates, check the club’s racing schedule or ring the club on (02) 4645 2200 — Club Menangle Trackside is at Racecourse Avenue, Menangle Park 2563, and its own pages give its racetrack hours as Tuesday afternoons and Saturday nights.

Club Menangle’s FAQ says “You don’t have to pay to get into our meetings other than Miracle Mile night.” Check the club’s event page for that night before you go.

The track is beside Menangle Park station. Read getting around before a feature night — weekend train service is roughly one train every 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and the last northbound departure on a Saturday is 23:10.