© Breeders' Cup/Jim Gensheimer 2013Breeders’ Cup Mile
Introduction
The Breeders' Cup Mile is one of the seven original races inaugurated with the Breeders’ Cup at the sadly now defunct Hollywood Park in 1984. A Grade 1 race on the turf, it serves as an international battleground where the world's best middle-distance runners converge to compete for supremacy. Over the years, the Mile has consistently asserted its position as arguably the most important race globally at the distance, attracting an increasingly diverse pool of talent from North America, Europe, and beyond.
Breeders’ Cup Mile History
The Breeders' Cup Mile was established to fill a void in American horse racing for a top-tier middle-distance turf race. The event quickly gained prominence, serving as a critical year-end championship that almost always determines Eclipse Award winners and influences international rankings. With a purse that has steadily risen and now stands at around $2 million, the Mile has become one of the most sought-after titles 'on the greeen'.
The Mile is open to thoroughbreds aged three years and older, and it is run over a distance of one mile on turf.
A feature of the Breeders' Cup Mile has been the number of repeat winners. No fewer than five horses have secured multiple Mile titles, but only one - the outstanding mare Goldikova - has won it three times. Indeed, she is one of only two horses to win at the Breeders' Cup race three times! [The other is Beholder, winner of the Juvenile Fillies, and twice triumphant in the Distaff]
2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile Challenge Series Races
| DATE | TRACK | RACE | GRADE | DISTANCE | AGE | SEX | DIVISION | AREA | WINNER |
| 06/01/2024 | KEN | L'Ormarins King's Plate | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | South Africa | Charles Dickens (SAF) | |
| 26/05/2024 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Chile | Frateli La Vita (CHI) | |
| 02/06/2024 | TOK | Yasuda Kinen | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Japan | Romantic Warrior (IRE) | |
| 18/06/2024 | ASC | The Queen Anne Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | Charyn (IRE) | |
| 31/07/2024 | GOO | Qatar Sussex Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | Notable Speech (GB) | |
| 10/08/2024 | Sar | The FanDuel Fourstardave | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | New York | Carl Spackler (IRE) | |
| 11/08/2024 | Dea | Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | France | Charyn (IRE) | |
| 14/09/2024 | WO | Rogers Woodbine Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Ontario | Win For The Money | |
| 28/09/2024 | SA | City of Hope Mile | II | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | California | Johannes | |
| 05/10/2024 | Kee | Coolmore Turf Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Kentucky | Carl Spackler (IRE) |
Breeders’ Cup Mile Trends
- 21 of last 22 winners had 4-6 seasonal starts
- 18 of last 22 winners had 2+ mile turf wins (exceptions all Euros)
- Repeat winners common (Miesque, Lure, Da Hoss, Goldikova, Wise Dan)
- 16 of the last 28 were US winners; 7 French-trained (UK/Ire back in biz, after long blank, wins in '18, '20, '21, '22, '23)
- 10/12 3yo winners were Euros (4 fillies); 12/15 5yo+ winners were US (exception Goldikova #3, and 2x C Appleby)
- Euro G1 win important (Expert Eye, Order of Australia no G1 win), US any Graded win
- 27 of the last 30 ran 123 last time, or finished within 4L of the winner
- Career record at 1m of BC Mile winners since 2002: Runs 150, 1st 88 (59%), 2nd 35 (23%)
- Thus, the last 22 BC Mile winners had a collective 82% 1-2 record at the distance
- Only 1 front runner has been 1st or 2nd since 2000 (Smooth Like Strait, 2nd in 2021); Lure (1992,1993) only winning front-runner
- Charlie Appleby won in '21, '22, '23 - bidding for four-timer in consecutive years
- Look to the closers?
How The Runners Fit
To be determined
Breeders’ Cup Mile Pace Map
To be determined
Key Trials
Go to breederscup.com for race videos.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile Trends Contenders
To be determined
Breeders’ Cup Mile Form Preview
To be determined
Breeders’ Cup Mile Form Contenders
To be determined
Breeders’ Cup Mile Results
Key: PP - post position; RS - run style (lengths behind leader: 4 <½L, 3 ½L- 1½L, 2 1¾L - 3½L, 1 > 3½L); Odds - return for a 1 unit stake; SR - Equibase speed figure
| Track | Date | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | PP | RS | Odds | SR | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Anita | 4/11/2023 | Master Of The Seas (RE) | Charles Appleby | William Buick | 13 | 1 | 3.30 | 116 | Result |
| Keeneland | 5/11/2022 | Modern Games (IRE) | Charles Appleby | William Buick | 4 | 1 | 1.38 | 120 | Result |
| Del Mar | 6/11/2021 | Space Blues (IRE) | Charles Appleby | William Buick | 2 | 2 | 2.10 | 120 | Result |
| Keeneland | 7/11/2020 | Order of Australia (IRE) | Aidan P. O'Brien | Pierre-Charles Boudot | 14 | 2 | 73.20 | 115 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 2/11/2019 | Uni (GB) | Chad C. Brown | Joel Rosario | 9 | 1 | 3.60 | 121 | Result |
| Churchill | 3/11/2018 | Expert Eye (GB) | Sir Michael R. Stoute | Lanfranco Dettori | 6 | 1 | 5.90 | 122 | Result |
| Del Mar | 4/11/2017 | World Approval | Mark E. Casse | John R. Velazquez | 5 | 2 | 2.70 | 122 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 5/11/2016 | Tourist | William I. Mott | Joel Rosario | 5 | 1 | 12.40 | 128 | Result |
| Keeneland | 10/31/2015 | Tepin | Mark E. Casse | Julien R. Leparoux | 7 | 3 | 4.90 | 125 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 1/11/2014 | Karakontie (JPN) | Jonathan E. Pease | Stephane Pasquier | 14 | 1 | 30.00 | 121 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 2/11/2013 | Wise Dan | Charles LoPresti | Jose Lezcano | 8 | 1 | 0.80 | 119 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 3/11/2012 | Wise Dan | Charles LoPresti | John R. Velazquez | 2 | 3 | 1.80 | 123 | Result |
| Churchill | 5/11/2011 | Court Vision | Dale L. Romans | Robby Albarado | 9 | 1 | 64.80 | 113 | Result |
| Churchill | 6/11/2010 | Goldikova (IRE) | Freddie Head | Olivier Peslier | 10 | 1 | 1.30 | 120 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 7/11/2009 | Goldikova (IRE) | Freddie Head | Olivier Peslier | 11 | 1 | 1.40 | 123 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 10/25/2008 | Goldikova (IRE) | Freddie Head | Olivier Peslier | 4 | 3 | 1.80 | 113 | Result |
| Monmouth | 10/27/2007 | Kip Deville | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | Cornelio H. Velasquez | 7 | 3 | 8.20 | 120 | Result |
| Churchill | 4/11/2006 | Miesque's Approval | Martin D. Wolfson | Eddie Castro | 10 | 1 | 24.30 | 116 | Result |
| Belmont | 10/29/2005 | Artie Schiller | James A. Jerkens | Garrett K. Gomez | 2 | 2 | 5.60 | 119 | Result |
| Lone Star | 10/30/2004 | Singletary | Don Chatlos | David Romero Flores | 10 | 2 | 16.50 | 125 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 10/25/2003 | Six Perfections (FR) | Pascal F. Bary | Jerry D. Bailey | 12 | 1 | 5.30 | 118 | Result |
| Arlington | 10/26/2002 | Domedriver (IRE) | Pascal F. Bary | Thierry Thulliez | 5 | 1 | 26.00 | 123 | Result |
| Belmont | 10/27/2001 | Val Royal (FR) | Julio C. Canani | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | 11 | 1 | 5.10 | 119 | Result |
| Churchill | 4/11/2000 | War Chant | Neil D. Drysdale | Gary L. Stevens | 11 | 1 | 3.50 | 114 | Result |
| Gulfstream | 6/11/1999 | Silic (FR) | Julio C. Canani | Corey S. Nakatani | 12 | 1 | 7.20 | 124 | Result |
| Churchill | 7/11/1998 | Da Hoss | Michael W. Dickinson | John R. Velazquez | 2 | 1 | 11.60 | 116 | Result |
| Hollywood | 8/11/1997 | Spinning World | Jonathan E. Pease | Cash B. Asmussen | 3 | 2 | 2.10 | 117 | Result |
| Woodbine | 10/26/1996 | Da Hoss | Michael W. Dickinson | Gary L. Stevens | 8 | 1 | 8.45 | 117 | Result |
| Belmont | 10/28/1995 | Ridgewood Pearl (GB) | John M. Oxx | John Patrick Murtagh | 2 | 3 | 2.55 | 121 | Result |
| Churchill | 5/11/1994 | Barathea (IRE) | Luca M. Cumani | Lanfranco Dettori | 1 | 2 | 10.40 | 125 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 6/11/1993 | Lure | Claude R. McGaughey III | Mike E. Smith | 12 | 4 | 1.30 | 118 | Result |
| Gulfstream | 10/31/1992 | Lure | Claude R. McGaughey III | Mike E. Smith | 1 | 4 | 5.40 | 119 | Result |
| Churchill | 2/11/1991 | Opening Verse | Richard J. Lundy | Patrick A. Valenzuela | 4 | 2 | 26.70 | N/A | Result |
| Belmont | 10/27/1990 | Royal Academy | Michael V. O'Brien | Lester Piggott | 1 | 1 | 2.80 | N/A | Result |
| Gulfstream | 4/11/1989 | Steinlen (GB) | D. Wayne Lukas | Jose A. Santos | 2 | 2 | 1.80 | N/A | Result |
| Churchill | 5/11/1988 | Miesque | Francois Boutin | Freddie Head | 8 | 1 | 2.00 | N/A | Result |
| Hollywood | 11/21/1987 | Miesque | Francois Boutin | Freddie Head | 4 | 2 | 3.60 | N/A | Result |
| Santa Anita | 1/11/1986 | Last Tycoon (IRE) | Robert Collet | Yves Saint-Martin | 7 | 3 | 35.90 | N/A | Result |
| Aqueduct | 2/11/1985 | Cozzene | Jan H. Nerud | Walter A. Guerra | 5 | 2 | 3.60 | N/A | Result |
| Hollywood | 10/11/1984 | Royal Heroine (IRE) | John H. M. Gosden | Fernando Toro | 10 | 1 | 1.70 | N/A | Result |
Noteworthy Breeders’ Cup Mile Winners
Miesque (1987, 1988)
French mare Miesque became the first horse to win two consecutive editions of the Mile. Her wins in 1987 and 1988 were dominant and set the standard for excellence in the race. Trained by Francois Boutin, she was ridden by Freddie Head, who would go on to train Goldikove to her famous Mile 'three-peat'.
Lure (1992, 1993)
American-bred Lure equaled Miesque’s feat with back-to-back wins in 1992 and 1993, showcasing his extraordinary speed and agility. Not only was Lure a repeat winner, but he's the only horse to have won the Mile gate to wire, a feat he all but reprised in his second score, giving best only at the first call by a mere head before moving on to lead for the rest of that double up success.
Goldikova (2008, 2009, 2010)
The brilliant French mare Goldikova stands in a league of her own with three consecutive victories, a feat that remains unmatched in the history of the Mile. She won a mind-boggling fourteen Group or Grade 1's across five seasons of racing, and placed second or third in another eight, including on her career swansong at Churchill Downs. There, bidding for an unprecedented four-timer in the Mile, she had to settle for third place after a troubled transit.
Wise Dan (2012, 2013)
American gelding Wise Dan not only won the Mile twice but also earned Eclipse Horse of the Year Awards in both years, a testament to his all-around brilliance..