Popular Alm

Popular Alm set a world record for a mile time trial at Moonee Valley on 13 May 1983, running 1:53.2.

After an unsuccessful Inter Dominion campaign in Perth when he finished third in the final, Popular Alm was given a spell before beginning the 1982/83 season which saw him become Australian Harness Horse of the Year.

[9] Returning to Melbourne he won the Marathon at Moonee Valley before sweeping all three legs of the Tasman Challenge series where his rivals included Gammalite and the New Zealand pacers Delightful Lady and Hands Down.

[12] For the season he raced 22 times for 18 wins 1 second and 1 third and was named Australian Harness Horse of the Year.

Early in the 1983/4 season Popular Alm won the Craven Filter Sprint (now known as the Queensland Pacing Championship) on the opening night of the new Albion Park track in 1:55.8.

[3] On 29 October 1983, Popular Alm became the shortest priced favourite in Australian harness racing history when winning at Brisbane’s Albion Park.

[14] In Melbourne he won the Winfield Cup for the second time beating Gammalite by 14 metres before suffering a serious injury.

[16] His notable progeny includes: Popular Alm died aged 24 in South Australia after suffering the effects of a crippling spinal disease caused by a spur-like calcification on a vertebra in his neck.