Celebration Mile
ClassGroup 2
Horse raceCelebration Mile
LocationGoodwood Racecourse
W. Sussex, England
Inaugurated1967
Race typeFlat
SponsorWilliam Hill
WebsiteGoodwood
Distance1 mile (1,609 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and up
Weight9 st 0 lb (3yo);
9 st 6 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
5 lb for Group 1 winners *
3 lb for Group 2 winners *
* after 2021
Purse£125,000 (2022)
1st: £70,888

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The Celebration Mile is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August.

History

The event was established in 1967, and it was originally called the Wills Mile. It was renamed the Goodwood Mile in 1971, and from this point it was classed at Group 3 level.

The race became known as the Waterford Crystal Mile in 1975, and it was promoted to Group 2 status in 1977. It was given its present title in 1989.

The leading horses from the Celebration Mile often go on to compete in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The last to win both in the same year was Poet's Voice in 2010.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Joe Mercer – Brigadier Gerard (1971), Sallust (1972), Captain James (1978), Kris (1979)
  • Willie Carson – Known Fact (1980), Bold Russian (1991), Mehthaaf (1994), Harayir (1995)
  • Greville Starkey – To-Agori-Mou (1981), Sandhurst Prince (1982), Rousillon (1984), Then Again (1986)

Leading trainer (8 wins):

  • Sir Michael Stoute – Milligram (1987), Among Men (1997), Medicean (2000), No Excuse Needed (2001), Chic (2004, 2005), Echelon (2007), Zacinto (2009)

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerTime
1967St Chad3George MooreNoel Murless1:44.00
1968Jimmy Reppin3Geoff LewisJohn Sutcliffe, Jr.1:39.20
1969Habitat3Lester PiggottFulke Johnson Houghton1:42.00
1970Humble Duty3Duncan KeithPeter Walwyn1:39.30
1971Brigadier Gerard3Joe MercerDick Hern1:42.07
1972Sallust3Joe MercerDick Hern1:39.43
1973Jacinth3John GortonBruce Hobbs1:38.32
1974Pitcairn3Ron HutchinsonJohn Dunlop1:42.84
1975Gay Fandango3Pat EdderyVincent O'Brien1:42.24
1976Free State3Pat EdderyPeter Walwyn1:39.44
1977Be My Guest3Lester PiggottVincent O'Brien1:46.28
1978Captain James4Joe MercerSeamus McGrath1:39.70
1979Kris [a]3Joe MercerHenry Cecil1:43.00
1980Known Fact3Willie CarsonJeremy Tree1:41.32
1981To-Agori-Mou3Greville StarkeyGuy Harwood1:38.59
1982Sandhurst Prince3Greville StarkeyGuy Harwood1:38.74
1983Montekin4Brian RouseJohn Dunlop1:39.27
1984Rousillon3Greville StarkeyGuy Harwood1:43.12
1985no race 1985 [b]
1986Then Again3Greville StarkeyLuca Cumani1:39.92
1987Milligram3Walter SwinburnMichael Stoute1:36.80
1988Prince Rupert4Michael HillsBarry Hills1:41.50
1989Distant Relative3Michael HillsBarry Hills1:40.08
1990Shavian3Steve CauthenHenry Cecil1:37.05
1991Bold Russian4Willie CarsonBarry Hills1:39.33
1992Selkirk4Ray CochraneIan Balding1:41.72
1993Swing Low4John ReidRichard Hannon Sr.1:38.94
1994Mehthaaf3Willie CarsonJohn Dunlop1:39.12
1995Harayir3Willie CarsonDick Hern1:36.73
1996Mark of Esteem3Frankie DettoriSaeed bin Suroor1:41.18
1997Among Men [c]3Michael KinaneMichael Stoute1:38.34
1998Muhtathir3Richard HillsJohn Gosden1:38.46
1999Cape Cross5John ReidSaeed bin Suroor1:38.64
2000Medicean3Pat EdderySir Michael Stoute1:38.65
2001No Excuse Needed3Kieren FallonSir Michael Stoute1:38.23
2002Tillerman6Richard HughesAmanda Perrett1:38.13
2003Priors Lodge5Willie RyanMarcus Tregoning1:37.63
2004Chic4Kieren FallonSir Michael Stoute1:43.22
2005Chic5Ryan MooreSir Michael Stoute1:37.89
2006Caradak5Frankie DettoriSaeed bin Suroor1:37.26
2007Echelon5Ryan MooreSir Michael Stoute1:38.97
2008Raven's Pass3Jimmy FortuneJohn Gosden1:39.30
2009Zacinto [d]3Ryan MooreSir Michael Stoute1:41.54
2010Poet's Voice3Frankie DettoriSaeed bin Suroor1:39.22
2011Dubawi Gold3Richard HughesRichard Hannon Sr.1:39.16
2012Premio Loco8George BakerChris Wall1:41.21
2013Afsare6Andrea AtzeniLuca Cumani1:38.60
2014Bow Creek3Joe FanningMark Johnston1:37.76
2015Kodi Bear3Gérald MosséClive Cox1:39.46
2016Lightning Spear5Oisin MurphyDavid Simcock1:35.96
2017Lightning Spear6Oisin MurphyDavid Simcock1:38.89
2018Beat The Bank4Oisin MurphyAndrew Balding1:37.12
2019Duke Of Hazzard3Rossa RyanPaul Cole1:37.47
2020Century Dream6James DoyleSimon & Ed Crisford1:40.38
2021Lavender's Blue5Rob HornbyAmanda Perrett1:36.21
2022Jadoomi4William BuickSimon & Ed Crisford1:40.86
2023Angel Bleu4Hector CrouchRalph Beckett1:44.67
2024Ice Max3Clifford LeeKarl Burke1:43.95
2025Jonquil3Colin KeaneAndrew Balding1:36.80
  1. ^ The 1979 running took place at Ascot
  2. ^ The 1985 edition was abandoned because of a waterlogged course
  3. ^ Cape Cross finished first in 1997, but he was relegated to last place following a stewards' inquiry
  4. ^ Delegator was first in 2009, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance

See also

References

  • Racing Post:
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  • Race Recordings (1969, 1981-2005) youtube.com
  • galopp-sieger.de – Celebration Mile (ex Wills Mile).
  • horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Celebration Mile (2018).
  • pedigreequery.com – Celebration Mile – Goodwood.
  • Abelson, Edward & John Tyrrel (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. p. 162. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.