Everything You Need To Know About The Breeders Cup Mile

One of the longest-running original races of the Breeders’ Cup Championship is the Breeder’s Cup Mile. it is a one-mile long Grade I grass course that is designed for thoroughbred racehorses aged three and up.

It’s a true test of a horse’s ability and class by drawing out the more stamina-oriented racehorses and emphasizing the true milers. Over the years, it has produced a winner almost as noticeable as the Classic victor.

The Mile has been part of the Breeders’ Cup World Championship since its inception in 1984 and continues to be one of the most beloved aspects of the whole championship. With plenty of well-known horses, trainers, and jockeys participating throughout its rich history — it’s no wonder why it’s so popular!

What Is The Breeders’ Cup Mile?

This is a one-mile (or 1.6 kilometers) race run on the turf that is designed for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. It first emerged in 1984 in North America. Since this time, the tradition has continued as part of the world championships. All of the events have been held in the US except during one event in 1996 which was held in Canada.

Types Of Bets To Place

If you are planning on making a wager in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, you must make sure that you fully understand all of the basics of making your bet. The first step? Familiarize yourself with the common types of betting that take place.

  • Win: this is when you are predicting that your horse will come out victorious and finish victorious (first place).

  • Place: you will be choosing a horse. If your chosen horse wins either first or second place then you will be eligible to receive your payout.

  • Show: this is much like the place but with an added third place. You will pick a horse and if they place within the first to third ranks, you will receive a payout.

As a racing novice, placing a ‘win’ bet is highly recommended. This is because of the overall nature of this bet. It’s pretty simple, really, as all you need to do is select a horse that you believe has the potential to go on and win the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Can I Bet On More Than One Race?

Absolutely! There are many different races within the championship, including the following:

  • Breeders’ Cup Turf

  • Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

  • Breeders’ Cup Mile

  • Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Before you take the steps to place your wager, you must understand the capabilities of the contenders. After all, you don’t want to bet blindly, that’s why you should look at the top picks first.

Notable Wins In Breeders’ Cup History

If you’re considering placing a bet on this race, make sure that you are on the lookout for the jockey who won more times than any other, Freddy Head. Yet one of the more important things you must think about with the Breeders’ Cup Mile is that there is no official stakes record because the racecourses change every year.

Tourist is currently the most notable name in Mile history with a Santa Anita course record finishing time of 1:31:71 (2016). He beat the 1:31:78 record that had previously been held by Wise Dan.

Yet these aren’t the only notable wins in Breeders’ Cup History. You also need to know the following statistics:

  • Most Overall Wins: Goldikova dominated the Breeders’ Cup Mile from 2008 to 2010 and became the first-ever horse to achieve three consecutive renewals of a Breeders’ Cup race.

  • Most Wins By A Trainer: awarded to Freddy Head – three consecutive wins in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

  • Most Wins By A Jockey: awarded to Olivier Peslier – three wins in 2008, 2009, and 2010, – and John R. Velazquez (wins in 1998, 2012, and 2017).

  • Most Wins By An Owner: Niarchos family or Flaxman Holdings – six wins (in 1987, 1988, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2014) and also Wertheimer et Frère in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Where To Watch The Breeders’ Cup Mile

You can purchase tickets on the official website to watch it live in Keeneland, United States. Or you can watch it on television if that best suits your circumstances. Like many other major races, this is streamed live on television (usually on NBC) so you don’t need to leave your own four walls to watch the horses that you love so much.

Purse

The purse was increased from $1.5 million to over $2 million in 2007. This meant that all of the hardworking people who are behind directly training the racers and the horses received a hefty compensation for their efforts. Fortunately, this increased prize fund is something that has remained ever since.

Summary

After reading this article, you’ll hopefully have more of an understanding of what the Breeders’ Cup Mile is and how it works. We understand there is a lot to learn but you don’t need to stress yourself out with all of the small details.

If you’re feeling a little daring, why not take a look at the odds and maybe even stake your own wagers? Whatever you choose to do, make sure that you gamble responsibly and don’t bet away large amounts of money for the sake of it.

Which was the last British-trained winner of the Irish Grand National?

Run over 3 miles 5 furlongs, and 22 stiff fences, the Irish Grand National has been a fixture of the Easter Monday programme at Fairyhouse Racecourse, in Co. Meath, northeastern Ireland, since the late nineteenth century. Worth €500,000 in prize money, Irish Grand National is the most valuable steeplechase run in Ireland and, being a handicap, might be expected to provide tasty bait for British trainers.

Historically, notable British-trained winners of the Irish Grand National include Rhyme ‘N’ Reason (1985), who won the Grand National at Aintree in 1988, and Desert Orchid (1990), who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989. However, on the whole, British-trained winners of the Irish Grand National have been few and far between.

In fact, since Desert Orchid successfully conceded 26lb and upwards all ’round in 1990 just four horses trained on the opposite side of the Irish Sea have been successful. Desert Orchid was immediately followed by Omerta, trained by Martin Pipe, in 1991, while Jenny Pitman was successful with Mudahim in 1997.

More recently, Gloucestershire trainer Jonjo O’Neill has saddled two winners, both owned by John P. McManus. The first of them, Butler’s Cabin, was ridden to a one-length success by Sir Anthony McCoy in 2007, while the second, Shutthefrontdoor, won by a similar margin under Barry Geraghty in 2014. The following April, Shutthefrontdoor was sent off favourite for the Grand National at Aintree, but faded from the final fence to finish fifth, 13 lengths behind the eventual winner, Many Clouds.

Which was the last mare to win the Grand National?

 

In today’s world, the ways media intersects with ‘the big events’ is also a point to note when you’re looking for a front-row seat for a slice of ‘history in the making. The clarity of footage and numerous ways to tune into the world-class sport is more diverse than ever. Whether it’s F1, Premier League Football, UFC, or, yes, the jewel in the crown of horse racing, The Grand National, you’re more likely to find people streaming these world-class events than consuming them from the old-fashioned media like television. Even though studies have shown that the most streamed sports in the UK are still football, rugby, and golf, horse racing is slowly winning over the streaming fans across the country.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the history of the most famous horse racing event, the Grand National, and give an overview of the most successful mares through the years.

 

It would certainly be fair to say that winning mares in the Grand National have been relatively few and, since the turn of the twentieth century, far between. The first ‘official’ running of the Grand National took place in 1839, and mares have won just 13, or 7.5%, of the 173 renewals so far. Interestingly, in the first 50 years of the Grand National, ten mares, namely Charity (1841), Miss Mowbray (1852), Anatis (1860), Jealousy (1861), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864), Casse Tete (1872), Empress (1880), Zoedone (1883) and Frigate (1889), won the celebrated steeplechase.

However, in the subsequent 132 years, just three mares – Shannon Lass (1902), Sheila’s Cottage (1948), and Nickel Coin (1951) – have been welcomed into the winners’ enclosure at Aintree as winners of the Grand National. In 2019, Magic Of Light, an 8-year-old Flemsfirth mare trained by Jessica Harrington, made a bold bid to strike a blow for the fairer sex; she jumped the final fence upsides the eventual winner, Tiger Roll, but although staying on gamely on the run-in, went down fighting, by 2¾ lengths.

Though as far as mare winners go, over seven decades after winning the National in 1951, Nickel Coin remains the last mare to do so. Trained by Jack O’Donoghue and ridden by Johnny Bullock, Nickel Coin defied odds of 40/1, taking advantage of a final fence blunder by Royal Tan – who would win the National three years later – to win by six lengths. Just three finished, with Derrinstown the only other horse to complete the course.

In all likelihood, due to the length of time at hand, any future mare winning the Grand National will also be seriously big odds (and as a way of reminder, these odds are with bookmakers, rather than betting exchanges, where they can be truly astronomical). As such, those who get it right will certainly be winning big.

We live in an era of female excellence in sports, which also shows in horse racing. Who could forget Rachael Blackmore’s spectacular Grand National win just last year on Minella Times – a first in the event, she then went on to become the first female winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard. So when you think about it, is it highly likely that this wave of ‘girl power’ will eventually apply to mares too. In fact, it’s surely only a matter of time before history repeats itself!

Which trainer was known as the ‘Sprint King’?

The trainer known as the ‘Sprint King’ was the late David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, who died in June, 2017, aged 61. Formerly a successful Flat jockey, with 421 winners to his name, Nicholls turned his hand to training in 1993. Based at Tall Trees Stables in Sessay, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Nicholls sent out a total of 1,269 winners, but will always be best remembered for his handling of sprinters.

At the highest, Group 1 level, Nicholls won the Nunthorpe Stakes twice, with Ya Malak in 1997 and Bahamian Pirate in 2004, the July Cup with Continent in 2002 and the Haydock Sprint Cup with Regal Parade in 2009. Like someone on a winning run on real money casino games, the man could seemingly do no wrong.  He also enjoyed success on the other side of the English Channel, winning the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp with Continent in 2002 and the Prix Maurice de Gheest with Regal Parade in 2010.

Nevertheless, it was in traditional ‘heritage’ handicaps that Nicholls really came into his own. Like a real money online roulette pro, it all fell right for him. He won the Ayr Gold Cup six times, with Bahamian Pirate in 2000, Continent in 2001, Funfair Wane in 2002 and 2004, Regal Parade in 2008 and Redford in 2010, the Epsom Dash five times, with Ya Malak in 1997, Rudi’s Pet in 2002, Atlantic Viking in 2003, Fire Up The Band in 2005 and Indian Trail in 2009 and the Stewards’ Cup three times, with Tayseer in 2000, Gift Horse in 2005 and Evens And Odds in 2010.

Summing up Nicholls’ career, his son, Adrian, said ‘Somebody may end up with a better record with sprinters one day but, to me, there will only ever be one ‘Sprint King’…’

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