Celebration Mile

The Celebration Mile is a Group 2 race for three-year-olds and upwards at Goodwood in late August.

It is a recognised trial for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot with Poet’s Voice (2010) being the most recent hose to win both races.

Other notable winners of this race include Brigadier Gerard (1971), Kris (1979), Selkirk (1992), Mark of Esteem (1996) and Raven’s Pass (2008).

Find out more about the Celebration Mile:

Celebration Mile

Race Overview

The Celebration Mile is a Group 2 flat racing competition for horses aged three and up contested in the United Kingdom. It takes place every year in late August at Goodwood on a one-mile course.

Check out our guides to all the other Group 2 horse races.

Celebration Mile Odds

Here are the latest odds for the Celebration Mile in 2023:

4.10 Goodwood (Race 5) - Dusky Lord v Celsius
  • Date: Tuesday 26th of July 2022
  • Time: 16:10
  • Details: 2 Runners Flat
Celsius
8/11
Dusky Lord
1/1

Celebration Mile Tips

Here are some tips for Celebration Mile in 2023:

  • 2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
  • 1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

Some of the horses in the Celebration Mile will run in other events later in the year. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

Celebration Mile Previous Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time
1967St Chad3George MooreNoel Murless1:44.00
1968Jimmy Reppin3Geoff LewisJohn Sutcliffe, Jr.1:39.20
1969Habitat3Lester PiggottFulke Johnson Houghton
1970Humble Duty3Duncan KeithPeter Walwyn1:39.20
1971Brigadier Gerard3Joe MercerDick Hern1:42.10
1972Sallust3Joe MercerDick Hern1:39.40
1973Jacinth3John GortonBruce Hobbs
1974Pitcairn3Ron HutchinsonJohn Dunlop
1975Gay Fandango3Pat EdderyVincent O'Brien1:42.20
1976Free State3Pat EdderyPeter Walwyn1:39.40
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 Harwood1:38.60
1982Sandhurst Prince3Greville StarkeyGuy Harwood
1983Montekin4Brian RouseJohn Dunlop1:39.30
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

Celebration Mile Previous Result

Famous Celebration Mile Winners

The Celebration Mile was first run as the Wills Mile in 1967, becoming the Goodwood Mile in 1971 when the legendary Brigadier Gerard was successful. Known simply as “The Brigadier”, the brilliant colt won seventeen of his eighteen races including the 2000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes, Champion Stakes twice, Eclipse Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The race became the Waterford Crystal Mile in 1975 and was promoted from Group 3 to Group 2 status two years’ later. Henry Cecil’s Kris was champion miler in 1979 and won here. His other victories included the St James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Other top class winners followed in the 1980’s including Known Fact (1980), To-Agori-Mou (1981), Rousillon (1984) and Milligram (1987).

The race was given its present title in 1989 and the high quality of winners was maintained throughout the nineties with the likes of Selkirk (1992), Harayir (1995) and Mark Of Esteem (1996). Selkirk was rated Europe’s Champion Miler in 1991 and 1992 by Timeform. Harayir won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket for Major Dick Hern and Mark of Esteem had won the 2000 Guineas prior to his victory at Goodwood.

Chic became the first dual winner in 2004 and 2005, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. His achievement was later matched by David Simcock’s Lightning Spear (2016, 2017). 2008 winner Raven’s Pass was the first English-trained winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He beat old rival and 2000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator in the process. The two horses clashed five times that season, memorably fighting out the finish of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes where Raven’s Pass emerged victorious for the first time.

Key Celebration Mile Trials

Course form at Goodwood is a key factor for Celebration Mile winners. Eight of the last twelve winners ran at the Sussex course on their previous start. Three contested the Sovereign Stakes with two winning and one placed. Three ran in the Thoroughbred Stakes (two winners) and two ran in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot is often the target for Celebration Mile winners. Four of the last twelve winners ran in that race next time, although only Poet’s Voice (2010) was successful. Bow Creek (2014) won the Boomerang Mile at Leopardstown next time while Century Dream (2020) finished fifth in the same race.

Celebration Mile Betting Trends

There have been five winning favourites in the Celebration Mile in the past twelve years. Kodi Bear (2015) was the shortest-priced winner at 4-5, Lightning Spear returned at Evens in 2017 while Afsare (2013) and Beat The Bank (2018) both returned at 11-8. Century Dream (2020) won as the 11-4 favourite for Simon and Ed Crisford and James Doyle. All but two of the twelve featured in the first three in the betting. The two shock results were provided by Premio Loco in 2012 and Lavender’s Blue in 2021, both returned at 20-1.

Three-year-olds have accounted for five of the last twelve winners, the most recent being Duke Of Hazzard in 2019. Premio Loco bucked most trends when winning this race as an eight-year-old for Chris Wall and George Baker.

Lavender’s Blue (106) and Bow Creek (108) were the only winners officially rated lower than 111. Four horses share the highest officially rated winner on 117; Dubawi Gold (2011), Kodi Bear (2015), Lightning Spear (2016, 2017) and Beat The Bank (2018).

Celebration Mile – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Sir Michael Stoute is the leading trainer in the history of the Celebration Mile with eight winners; Milligram (1987), Among Men (1997), Medicean (2000), No Excuse Needed (2001), Chic (2004, 2005), Echelon (2007) and Zacinto (2009). Saeed bin Suroor has won the race four times, most recently with Poet’s Voice in 2010.

Three jockeys share the record of four winners in the race; Joe Mercer, Willie Carson and Greville Starkey. Oisin Murphy won the race for three consecutive seasons aboard Lightning Spear (2016, 2017) and Beat The Bank (2018). Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori also have three victories apiece, although they have not won since 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Best Celebration Mile Betting Sites

The Celebration Mile has been won by some champion milers over the years and always produces a thrilling race against the backdrop of the Sussex Downs. It usually pays to follow the form and it can provide clues to the big Autumn mile races.

Here are the most popular free bets for Celebration Mile betting:

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Popular Questions

When does the Celebration Mile take place?

The Celebration Mile takes place in late August.

Where is the Celebration Mile held?

The Celebration Mile is held at Goodwood Racecourse.

What distance is the Celebration Mile?

The Celebration Mile is exactly 1 mile long.

Summary of Celebration Mile

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the Celebration Mile.

Related August Articles

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As the Founder of British Racecourses, I have a life-long passion for horse racing and have loved the sport as long as I can remember. I am also a keen racehorse owner and have worked in the gambling industry for several years. I set up British Racecourses with the desire to share my passion for racing with other like-minded people.