KEY POINTS:
This year's Miracle Mile is almost certain to be moved from Harold Park to the new Menangle Park track, which was officially opened to rave reviews last Sunday.
Menangle Park, in Sydney's southwest, was the logical place to have the club's signature meeting, but a Sunday date instead of the usual Friday night fixture was likely, New South Wales Harness chief executive John Dumesny told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday.
Menangle Park's 1400m track does not have any light towers to accommodate night racing, but after the success of the opening meeting, TAB officials have indicated that they will offer financial support in order to make Menangle the premier venue in NSW.
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The Canterbury partnership of Mark Purdon and Grant Payne holds a solid lead in the harness trainers' premiership, with the title decided at the end of the month.
Purdon and Payne have had 85 wins from 313 starts, 18 ahead of fellow Cantabrians David and Catherine Butt, who are three ahead of the leading North Island trainer, Pukekohe's Steve Reid.
Reid, who has had 240 starters, trained a double at Alexandra Park last Friday with Lisphia having her second win in a row and 2-year-old Italian Stallion.
Geoff Small is next on the premiership table with 56 wins from 323 starters.
In the drivers' premiership 18-year-old Dexter Dunn leads Peter Ferguson by four, after reining home three winners last weekend.
Dunn, in only his second year of driving, has 132 wins, Ferguson 128 while Mark Jones is third on 120.
In the junior drivers' premiership, Dunn leads Nathan Williamson by 71.
- NZPA
