Since Leap To Fame’s completed the Triple Crown with his epic and historic Miracle Mile win, the burning question has been where it ranks him with the greats of harness racing.

Sure, it’s easy to say it is not fair to compare horses from different eras, but it’s fun and reminds of the wonderful equine heroes of years gone by.

It was immensely enjoyable letting my mind wander down memory lane to come up with my own top 10 list.

Given how long I’ve followed the game, and factoring a (hopefully) younger demographic enjoying Leap To Fame and reading this, I chose to confine my top 10 list to pacers who have dominated since 2000.

There were a few crossovers, most notably Holmes DG and Shakamaker, but to be fair, I focused only on what they did from 2000 onwards.

For context, I landed on a “shortlist” of 25 pacers and narrowed them down to the top 10, in order.

Cue the understandable and very welcome anger and disappointment that comes from most people with a (perhaps very) different opinion to mine.

But we’re all different, certain horses or moments will impact you more than me, and so this is purely my opinion and far from a bible anyone should stick by.

Let me start by saying Leap To Fame isn’t number one, at least not yet.

But he has the potential to be. What he’s done in less than three years of racing is astonishing, especially his first eight months – yes, it’s only been eight months – on the Grand Circuit.

It’s folly to say he can get better, but all he has to do is maintain the rage to go very close to overtaking his Queensland compatriot – and by far the greatest pacer Queensland has produced – Blacks A Fake as the all-time richest earner in Australasian harness racing.

Leap To Fame sits on $2,765,957 with 35 wins from just 45 starts, while Blacks A Fake banked $4,575,438 from 105 starts and 72 wins.

Blacks A Fake raced for eight years, from July 31, 2003 to July 23 23, 2011.

Leap To Fame’s first start was March 27, 2021 and he won the Miracle Mile on March 9, 2024.

Anyway, I’ve basically given away who sits at the top of my list. Yes, it is Blacks A Fake.

So, here we go.

1.      BLACKS A FAKE (trainer-driver: Natalie Rasmussen - pictured): Surely one of the greatest of all-time, not just since 2000. Remarkable horse. Did almost everything and dominated at the top for so long. His legacy – six Inter Dominion finals for four wins and two seconds (think about that).

2.      IM THEMIGHTYQUINN (trainer: Gary Hall Sr): Pure excitement. Rose to greatness with his explosive speed. One of the fastest and most brilliant Grand Circuit pacers we’ve seen. But developed strength over time and had it all. Three Inter Dominions and so much more.

3.      LEAP TO FAME (trainer-driver Grant Dixon): Still got it all ahead of him, but followed a dominant three-year-old season by making the most dominant splash in his first eight eight months (yes, that’s all it’s been) on the Grand Circuit. Became only the second horse and the first since Preux Chevalier 39 years ago to win the Triple Crown (Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile) in one campaign.

4.      LAZARUS (trainer-driver: Mark Purdon - pictured): Became an NZ all-time great with two NZ Cup wins, including one by half the straight. Then took it to Australia for his Inter Dominion and Hunter Cup wins. A mighty stayer who would’ve done so much more here had he not gone to the US (and stud).

5.      KING OF SWING (trainer: Belinda McCarthy): Doesn’t get the credit he deserves because his early brilliance saw him lead and win so many of his major races. But it takes something special to be the only pacer to win three successive Miracle Miles. Oh, and there were two Hunters in there as well.

6.      SMOKEN UP (trainer-driver: Lance Justice): Not sure we’ve seen a tougher or braver pacer. Another who raced for so long at the very top (and against great horses). His career spanned more than seven years. Two Miracle Miles, a Victoria Cup, four Len Smith Miles and four SA Cups.

7.      ELSU (trainer: Geoff Small - pictured): Some might say he’s too high, but on sheer talent and dominance at his prime, he was right up there. Won the NSW Derby at three, Chariots at four and then added a Hunter Cup and clean sweep of the Auckland Inter Dominion series.

8.      BEAUTIDE (trainer-driver: James Rattray): One of the best stories of the past 25 years, rising from obscurity out of Tasmania to “own” the open-class ranks, winning back-to-back Inter Dominions and a Miracle Mile. Reminded us of the greats to come out of the once great Tassie harness industry and sits right up with them.

9.      SHAKAMAKER (trainer-driver: John Justice): Had a bit of the Im Themightyquinn’s about him with his sheer brilliance. Won the 2000 Inter Dominion and ran second again in 2002. Won a Victoria Cup and finished second in two others. Second and third in two Hunter Cups.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS (not in order): Christen Me, Mr Feelgood, Sokyola, Smooth Satin, Double Identity, Tailamade Lombo, Atitagain, Smolda, Lochinvar Art, Auckland Reactor, Yulestar, Flashing Red, Chicago Bull, Terror To Love, Monkey King.