All data was manually compiled and is subject to human error.
Introduction
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a 8 furlong race over the turf for 3-year-olds and up. It was first run 1984 as one of the original Breeders’ Cup races.
A note to screen reader users. The interactive charts on this site are built using Google Charts. There are two major elements to each chart, the images used to display the chart and a tabular representation of the data within the chart. Unfortunately the charts are structured to announce all of the images before announcing the tabular data. In some cases this will mean upwards of 50 images get announced before the data. If you'd like to provide feedback please visit the Accessibility Statement for information.
Below is a look at data from a variety of angles to see what has produced winners in the Breeders' Cup Mile from 1991-2018.
Charts are interactive, hover over or touch bars and lines for more information.
Bettors’ Choice is the ranked order of the field by final odds: The favorite is the first choice, the second favorite is the second choice and so on. For example, 1991 winner Opening Verse was 12th choice in a 14 horse field.
1991-2018
Average Choice of Winner:
4.07
Average Field Size:
12.89
Average Favorite Finish Position:
5.4
2010-2018
Average Choice of Winner:
4.33
Average Field Size:
12.33
Average Favorite Finish Position:
3.82
Breeders' Cup Mile Winning Running Styles 1991-2018
To read the charts below, 0 on the vertical axis is the lead, any distance behind the leader is below 0 and any distance above 0 is the amount the leader is ahead of the next horse. At the bottom are the points of call as they correspond to the charts. Each line is a horse, and you can hover over the point of call for each line to see more information about the horse.
For example, if you hover over the bottom-most line in the first chart, at the 1/2 mile mark you’ll see that 2009 winner Goldikova was 10 lengths behind the leader at this point in the race.
Position at the 1/2 mile mark
Speed:
In the lead
Presser/Stalker:
Between .1 and 3 lengths off leader
Off the pace:
Between 3 and 6 lengths off the leader
Deep closer:
More than 6 lengths off the leader
The Breeders' Cup Mile has been predominately won by stalkers since 1991 (50%). In the last 10 years stalkers have won 30% but off-the-pace runners have had the edge, winning 70% of the time.
A closer look at winning running styles by decade.
Breeders' Cup Mile Winning Running Styles 1991-1999
The majority of Breeders' Cup Mile winners have come from Longchamp since 1991 with Keeneland not far behind. These two tracks have also dominated the last decade, each sending four winners. Winners have on average races in the last 33 days.
Days Since Last Race 1991-2018
Average Days Since Last Race:
33.1
Median Days Since Last Race:
28
Breeders' Cup Mile Winners Placing in Prior Race 1991-2018
The majority of winners and starters since 1991 have been 4-year-olds have been the most frequent starters (33.8%) and winners (39.2%) of the Breeders’ Cup Mile since 1991. 25% of the winners have 3-year-olds while 21% have 5-year-olds, but 5-year-olds have started a bit more frequently than 3-year-olds. 6-, 7- and 8-year-olds make up 14% of all starters in the time frame.
Numbers over 1 outperform expected value and numbers less than 1 underperform expected value. Learn more about how A/E ratio is calculated and how it should be interpreted.
Looking at the performance of each age group, 6-year-olds had the highest win rate to relative starters at 9.6% but there isn't that much difference between the age groups given the larger overall number of starters as compared to non-Breeders' Cup stakes races. 6- and 7-year-olds have outperformed their expected odds.
Breeders' Cup Mile Multiple Winners & Run Backs 1991-2018
Since 1991 the Breeders’ Cup Mile has had three two-time winners (Lure 1992-1993, Da Hoss 1996 & 1998, Wise Dan 2012-2013) and one three-time winner (Goldikova 2008-2010).
A run back is defined as a starter who made a prior start in the race. For example three-time winner Goldikova first ran in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2008, finishing first. She ran back to win in 2009 and 2010, then again to finish 3rd in 2011.
A total of 55 individual starters have made more than one start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile since 1991 for a total of 45 run back starts.
Starters who have previously run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile have only won 9.09% of the time since 1991 and have finished in the money (first, second or third) 18.2% of the time.
Six fillies/mares have won the Breeders’ Cup Mile since 1991. In that time frame 48 fillies/mares have started for a 12.5% win rate relative to number of starts. Fillies and mares fared a bit better hitting the board, running in the money 13 times, or 27% of the time, relative to starts.
Thanks largely to thee-time winner Goldikova and Tepin, fillies and mares have fared much better in the last ten years with a win rate of 16.7% relative to starts.
The Breeders’ Cup Mile has generally been a formful race with an occasional great payout.
The average winning odds since 1991 are 10.6-1 with a median of 5.5-1 and an average $23.20 payout for a $2 win ticket. Since 2010 the averages have increased to winning odds of 13.8-1 and $29.60 to win while the median odds dropped to 4.9-1.
The winner on average has been the 4th choice (4.07) since 1991 and has remained relatively steady at 4.33 since 2010. The favorite has an average finish position of 5th (5.4) since 1991 but has improved dramatically to 3rd (3.82) since 2010.
Stalkers/Pressers have performed best since 1991 winning 50% of the time. Stalker/pressers have performed well in the last ten years, winning 30% of the time, but off-the-pace runners have had the edge winning 70% of the time.
Winners have predominately come from Keeneland and Longchamp since 1991, and that trend has continued over the last 10 years with each track sending 40% of the winners. Field size has been above the 2017 average of 7.7 starters with an average of 12.89 starters since 1991.
