Racing Record
Making his racing debut as a two year old Popular Alm had raced only five times before being sold for $40,000 to clients of Kilmore based trainer Bob Knight. Making his debut for Knight in the 1980 South Australian Pacing Derby at Globe Derby Park, Popular Alm was the subject of a betting plunge. He was backed from 33/1 to 9/4 but finished second behind fellow Victorian Gammalite.
Poppy was driven by Bob Knight's son Vincent (Vin, Vinny) John Knight who died in April 1991.
After suffering an injury upon returning to Victoria he was sent for a spell and did not race again until August 1980. Progressing quickly through his classes Popular Alm won 15 consecutive races including the 1981 Kilmore Cup and a track record breaking win in 1:55.9 over the mile at Harold Park in Sydney. The winning sequence came to an end when he finished second in the 1982 Ballarat Cup off a 25 metre handicap. After an unsuccessful Interdominion campaign when he finished third in the final, Popular Alm was given a spell before beginning the 1982/3 season which saw him become Australian Harness Horse of the Year. During 1982/3 he won the Winfield Cup (later known as the Victoria Cup), the Miracle Mile, the A G Hunter Cup, all three legs of the Tasman Challenge, and finished second in the Auckland Interdominion final behind Gammalite. He completed the season with his 1:53.2 time trial. By breaking the previous Australian mile record by 1.7 seconds, he reduced the record by more than any horse since Walla Walla in 1933.
On 29 October 1983, Popular Alm became the shortest priced favourite in Australian harness racing history when winning at Brisbane’s Albion Park.
Popular Alm began the 1983/4 season by winning the Craven Filter Sprint on the opening night of the new Albion Park in 1:54.5, a new Australian record time for a race. He then won the Australian Pacing Championship and the Winfield Cup before suffering a serious injury. 'Poppy' as he had become known, had broken a bone in his leg during trackwork and did not race for nearly a year. During his recovery he received get well cards from children.
Popular Alm was able to return to racing in preparation for Melbourne's 1985 Inter Dominion Championships. Although winning his only two starts after returning to racing late in 1984 he never regained full fitness and was retired to stud.
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