Breeders’ Cup Mile

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ - OCTOBER 27: Cosmonaut #7, riden by Julien Leparoux, leads Kip Deville #8, riden by Cornelio Velasquez, around turn three during the Netjets Breeders' Cup Mile October 27, 2007 during the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Breeders’ Cup Mile is a Grade 1 race for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. The race is run over a mile on dirt or synthetic dirt tracks, and is regarded as one of the most prestigious 1 mile events in the world. The race distance, and substantial prize fund, attracts international thoroughbreds that have competed successfully in other major 1 mile races, including the Irish and Newmarket Guineas.

The 2009 Breeders’ Cup Mile is sponsored by NetJets and will award a purse of $2 million.

Breeders’ Cup Mile Winners

In 1987 and 1988, American-born Miesque became the first horse to win two consecutive Breeders’ Cup races. She was followed by Lure, who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in both 1992 and 1993. The bay gelding Da Hoss, trained by Michael Dickinson, won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in two non-consecutive years (1996 and 1998) - becoming one of only a handful of thoroughbreds to have achieved this feat at the Breeders’ Cup meeting.

Year

Winner

Time

Jockey

Trainer
2008 Goldikova 1:33.40 O. Peslier F. Head
2007 Kip Deville 1:39.78 C. Velasquez R. Dutrow
2006 Miesque’s Approval 1:34.75 Eddie Castro Martin Wolfson
2005 Artie Schiller 1:36.10 G. Gomez J. Jerkins
2004 Singletary 1:36.90 D. Flores D. Chatlos
2003 Six Perfections 1:33:86 Jerry Bailey Pascal Bary
2002 Domedriver 1:36:88 Thierry Thulliez Pascal Bary
2001 Val Royal 1:32:05 Jose Valdivia Julio Canani
2000 War Chant 1:34:60 Gary Stevens Neil Drysdale
1999 Silic 1:34:20 Corey Nakatani Julio Canani
1998 Da Hoss 1:35:20 John Velazquez Michael Dickinson
1997 Spinning World 1:32:60 Cash Asmussen Jonathan Pease
1996 Da Hoss 1:35:80 Gary Stevens Michael Dickinson
1995 Ridgewood Pearl 1:43:60 John Murtagh John Oxx
1994 Barathea 1:34:40 Frankie Dettori Luca Cumani
1993 Lure 1:33:40 Mike Smith Shug McGaughey
1992 Lure 1:32:80 Mike Smith Shug McGaughey
1991 Opening Verse 1:37:40 Pat Valenzuela Dick Lundy
1990 Royal Academy 1:35:20 Lester Piggott M.V. O’Brien
1989 Steinlen 1:37:20 Jose Santos D. Wayne Lukas
1988 Miesque 1:38:60 Freddie Head Francois Boutin
1987 Miesque 1:32:80 Freddie Head Francois Boutin
1986 Last Tycoon 1:35:20 Yves St.-Martin Robert Collet
1985 Cozzene 1:35:00 Walter Guerra Jan Nerud
1984 Royal Heroine 1:32:60 Fernando Toro John Gosden

2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile

Classy Irish 3-year-old filly, Goldikova, beat a host of top rated thoroughbred colts to emerge with the honours at the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Mile. The win was a landmark in the career of champion jockey-turned-trainer Freddy Head, who became the only person to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile as a jockey and trainer. The race was a major disappointment for the backers of defending champion, Kip Deville, who had to settle for second place a length behind Golidkova.