Bettor’s Delight was foaled in 1998, while Art Major was born in 1999, and yet these two stallions, despite being in their twilight years, are still highly influential today in the sport and it seems their influence is getting stronger as the two lines become more and more entwined.

The results of Miracle Mile night at Menangle emphasizes this.

The first three placegetters in the $1million Garrard’s Miracle Mile were all by Bettor’s Delight – the winner Leap To Fame, runner-up Sooner The Bettor and the third placed Speak The Truth.

Leap To Fame is the fourth winner of NSW’s signature race to be sired by Bettor’s Delight, joining Spankem (2019), Have Faith In Me (2016) and Beautide (2013).

Bettor’s Delight also left the winner of the mares’ feature the Baby Bling Stakes in the New Zealand-bred Manhattan (1:49.6).

Incredibly, the Woodlands Stud flagship appeared in the pedigrees of all bar one of the eight pacing winners on the night. Besides Leap To Fame and Manhattan, he figured as the damsire of the NSW Derby winner Soho Spectre, the J. L. Raith Memorial victor Millwood Bliss, the Group 2 Free-for-all winner Its Merlin, Hot And Treacherous and Don Hugo.

Art Major, Alabar Bloodstock’s champion sire, also enjoyed a red-letter night with a winning treble in the Derby winner Soho Spectre, Its Merlin and Don Hugo. The Artsplace horse, who sired the fastest ever Miracle Mile winner My Field Marshal (2018), also ranks as the damsire of Leap To Fame.

Bettor’s Delight and Art Major both have many sons at the stud, so their influence is certain to be felt for another decade, at the least. Bettor’s Delight’s sons include Bettor's Wish, Tall Dark Stranger, Lazarus, Tiger Tara, Betting Line, Ultimate Machete, All Bets Off, Highview Tommy and Ohoka Punter.

Art Major, who belongs to the famous siring family of Miss Duvall, is represented by Vincent, For A Reason, Follow The Stars, Ride High, Renaissance Man, Restrepo, Major Bronski, My General Lee and Major Secret in Australia and Sky Major in NZ.

Talented mare Sew What, who came from last to win the $40,000 Horsham Pacing Cup, was bred and is raced by a group of well known identities in John Hawke, Rob Merola, Sam Godino and Dianne Giles. The Western Terror mare has now won over $250,000

Three-year-old trotter Mister Blindside, a runaway winner at Ballarat, is the first foal of the Vicbred champion Betty Hall. By Muscle Mass, the colt was bred by Ballarat couple Chris and Haley Lang

Claudy’s Secret, who broke maiden ranks at the Birchip Cup meeting, was bred by veteran Goulburn Valley trotting scribe Gus Underwood. The mare is a half-sister to former trotting queen Claudy’s Princess and Claudy’s Prince

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.