For Thompson, A Bittersweet Call

Sun Herald

Sunday November 23, 2008

DAVID MURRAY

VETERAN racecaller Kevin Thompson has seen some of harness racing's greatest pacers win the Miracle Mile since his first broadcast of the sprint at Harold Park 28 years ago.

Thompson said calling Friday night's race would be a sad occasion, with the Miracle Mile moving away from the Glebe circuit to the NSW Harness Racing Club's Menangle track from next year.

"You look forward to the Miracle Mile every year; it's been the signature race at Harold Park and the big crowd always makes the difference to a racecaller," he said. "There have been some top horses win it - like Westburn Grant [1989-90], Village Kid [1987], Preux Chevalier [1985] and Chokin [1993-94]."

It seemed like only yesterday that a fresh-faced Thompson was calling Locarno a surprise winner of the 1980 edition.

"He was a 25-1 outsider and drew gate six, which was the outside in the field," he recalled. "And he beat one of the best fields. Besides Lord Module - the New Zealand Cup winner - there was Pure Steel, Paleface Adios, Koala King and Frosty Imp.

"It was a champion field and as good as I've seen."

Thompson rated Christian Cullen's win in 1998 as "exceptional".

"He exploded away to win easily. But the most exciting win was Popular Alm [1983] - the best horse I've seen. He sat outside Gammalite and Poppy had to work hard and still came on."

Thompson was disappointed to hear Be Good Johnny and emerging Kiwi superstar Auckland Reactor would not take their places this year.

"It's sad because [the race] looked like being one of the best," he said. "A lot of Kiwi horses have failed in the past but he [Auckland Reactor] looked the real deal."

© 2008 Sun Herald

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