This year, the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile, presented by the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), once again will be worth $2 million. Raised from $1.5 million in 2007, the one-mile grass event has been held every year since the event’s inception in 1984.
European imports have fared exceptionally well in the Mile, starting with inaugural winner Royal Heroine. Though she had been training in California with then British transplant John Gosden, she began her career in Europe and won several races though her Breeders’ Cup score was her most famous and earned her an Eclipse Award as North America’s best female turf performer.
Other Europeans to have won the Mile include Last Tycoon (1986), Miesque (1987, 1988), Royal Academy (1990), Barathea (1994), Ridgewood Pearl (1995), Spinning World (1997), Domedriver (2002), Six Perfections (2003), Goldikova (2008, 2009, 2010), Karakontie (2014), Expert Eye (2018), Uni (2019), Order of Australia (2020), Space Blues (2021) and Modern Games (2022).
Irish-bred and France-based Goldikova won this race three years in a row from 2008 to 2010 and she remains the only three-time Breeders’ Cup winner. Four others won this race twice – Miesque (1997, 1988), Lure (1992, 1993), Da Hoss (1996, 1998) and Wise Dan (2012, 2013).
Champion French jockey Olivier Peslier and Eclipse Award winner and Hall of Famer John Velazquez have each ridden three winners to lead all jockeys. Peslier was aboard Goldikova in all of her starts while John Velazquez rode Da Hoss in 1998, Wise Dan in 2012 and World Approval in 2017.
Thanks to Goldikova, jockey-turned-trainer Freddie Head–who was Miesque’s pilot for her two wins–remains the race’s leading trainer. And Flaxman Holdings (Niarchos Family) has owned six winners of this race – Miesque (1987, 1988); Spinning World (1997); Domedriver (2002); Six Perfections (2003); and Karakontie (2012). The late Stavros Niarchos himself was listed as Miesque’s owner.
Wise Dan owns the fastest time when he ran the mile in 1:31.78 over Santa Anita’s firm turf in 2012.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
