Menangle Park hosts plenty of big race nights, but Saturday 14 March 2026 was one for the history books: Queensland pacer Leap To Fame won his second $1 million Group 1 Garrards Miracle Mile at Club Menangle, rating 1:49.0 and holding off fellow Queenslander The Janitor by half a neck (some reports called it a head), with defending champion Don Hugo third. It was no easy trip either — the 7-year-old raced three-wide early, then sat exposed in the death seat outside the leader, and still held on.
The win cemented his place among the sport's greats. It was his second Miracle Mile after 2024 (when he rated 1:48.3), following a runner-up finish to Don Hugo in 2025, and his 15th Group 1 — one short of the Down Under record of 16 shared by Lazarus and Westburn Grant. His record after the race stood at 85 starts for 66 wins and 17 placings, with Australasian-record earnings of $5,883,234. "I really never thought I would have a horse good enough to contest all these great races," said trainer-driver Grant Dixon, who prepares the horse with co-trainer Trista Dixon. Owner Kevin Seymour, who races him with wife Kay, said: "He's what dreams are made of... for us and harness racing."
For residents, it was the suburb at its loudest: a massive crowd packed the track for a card that also featured the Yabby Dam Farms Hammerhead Trotters Mile and the Slingsby Holdings NSW Derby. Nights like this are why the harness racing world knows Menangle Park's name — and they happen a short walk from home. Keep an eye on What's On for the next big meeting, and check Getting Around before feature nights, when the crowds are at their biggest.
Would the champion retire on a high? Seymour wasn't ready to decide on the night: "Let's talk about it then. I want to savor this for now."
Update: the story has since taken a twist. At the Inter Dominion pacing final at Albion Park on 18 July 2026, Leap To Fame — already 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. His connections have postponed retirement rather than call time: he races on, with Grand Circuit targets ahead. No return date at Menangle has been confirmed, but locals may yet get another look at him in our backyard.
More: Race report, Harness Racing Update (15 Mar 2026) ↗ · Miracle Mile night at Menangle, South West Voice (16 Mar 2026) ↗ · Second Miracle Mile win, HRNZ ↗ · Inter Dominion final report, Harness Racing Update (19 Jul 2026) ↗ · Retirement postponed, Harnesslink ↗ · Miracle Mile Pace, Wikipedia ↗