WHEN Ray McCarthy packed up his young family and moved to Bathurst to open a butcher's shop, he had no idea that his family would go on to become a powerhouse of the harness racing industry.
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While Ray was involved in the industry, he trained 1979 NSW Sapling Stakes winner Greentree Dancer, it was not a full-time pursuit.
However, now the name McCarthy sits on the honour role of many of Australia's biggest races and has appeared on race programs in America and New Zealand as well.
Ray's son John, who was 14 when the family moved to Bathurst, is now based at Cobbitty. He has driven 17 Group 1 winners and as a trainer, boasts 20 Group 1 success stories.
Amongst John's success stories are back-to-back Miracle Mile victories with Be Good Johnny (2005-06).
And as of Saturday night, John's son Luke McCarthy can all himself a Miracle Mile winner as well.
It was the 60th Group 1 winning drive of Luke's career, but steering the Craig Cross trained King Of Swing ($3.40 favourite) to victory in the annual feature is a moment he will long remember.
"I've been trying for a long time to win this race so it is a special thrill to win it - at last," he said after his triumph in the $1 million classic.
"Thanks for trusting me with the drive and Gary Hall senior for sending us the horse. He knew how good this horse was and he wasn't putting his best foot forward [in WA].
"To give us a crack with him and to win the Hunter Cup and now the Miracle Mile, well it's a dream come true."
The father-son Miracle Mile success of the McCarthys is not the first time Western Districts products have enjoyed the family double in the iconic race.
The Lagoons Tony 'AD' Turnbull (1974 Hondo Grattan) and his son Steve Turnbull (2001 Smooth Satin) have both won the Miracle Mile.
On Saturday Luke McCarthy found the lead with the favourite after a blistering 25.9 seconds first quarter. He was given not peace as the moves continued to come, King Of Swing was too strong for his rivals.
He won by 2.5m over Lochinvar Art ($4.80) in a scorching 1:48.0 mile rate.
