The Grosse Europa-Meile is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Munich in September.
History The event was originally staged at Cologne as the Grosser Kaufhof-Preis. It was established in 1951, and the early runnings varied between 1,800 and 2,200 metres.
The race was shortened to a mile in 1972, and from this point it held Group 3 status. It was renamed the Elite-Preis in 1983, and promoted to Group 2 level in 1989. It reverted to its original title in 1991.
Europcar started a three-year period of sponsorship in 1998, and the event became known as the Grosse Europcar-Meile. It was later titled the Grosse Europa-Meile.
The Grosse Europa-Meile was transferred to Munich in 2011. It was relegated back to Group 3 level in 2013.
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Thiggo – 1962, 1963 Spielhahn – 1966, 1967 Lirung – 1985, 1986 Alkalde – 1988, 1989 Power Flame – 1997, 1998
Leading jockey (5 wins): Fritz Drechsler – Fuchstanz (1951), Magus (1955), Augustus (1956), Olivetto (1959), Arcaro (1971) Johannes Starosta – Harmodius (1953), Thiggo (1962, 1963), Spielhahn (1966, 1967)
Leading trainer (4 wins): Heinz Jentzsch – Arcaro (1971), Esclavo (1980), Lirung (1985, 1986) Andreas Wohler - Power Flame (1997, 1998), Noor Al Hawa (2016), Delection Girl (2017)
Winners since 1972 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 1972 Meadow Mint 3 Willie Carson Sam Armstrong 1:56.20 1973 Leonidas 4 Horst Horwart Robert Backes 1:36.80 1974 General Vole 3 Taffy Thomas Ryan Jarvis 1:42.00 1975 Tirade 4 Heinz-Peter Ludewig Herbert Block 1:38.10 1976 Kronenkranich 4 Jerzy Jednaszewski Theo Grieper 1:39.20 1977 Wintermond 4 Peter Alafi Hans-Georg Thalau 1:38.00 1978 Nephrit 3 Klaus Neuhaus Friedrich Müller 1:37.90 1979 Rodaun 4 José Orihuel Herbert Block 1:37.50 1980 Esclavo 4 Ralf Suerland Heinz Jentzsch 1:39.40 1981 Aspros 4 Peter Remmert Theo Grieper 1:45.10 1982 Mister Rocks 4 Peter Alafi Sven von Mitzlaff 1:42.30 1983 Torgos 7 Peter Alafi Fredy Scheffer 1:38.10 1984 Solarstern 5 Lutz Mäder Hein Bollow 1:37.10 1985 Lirung 3 Georg Bocskai Heinz Jentzsch 1:34.10 1986 Lirung 4 Georg Bocskai Heinz Jentzsch 1:38.30 1987 Tout Est Permis 3 Éric Legrix Philippe Lallié 1:40.80 1988 Alkalde 3 Dragan Ilic Peter Lautner 1:41.18 1989 Alkalde 4 Lutz Mäder Peter Lautner 1:41.40 1990 Mirror Black 4 Billy Newnes Peter Makin 1:44.50 1991 Itsabrahma 5 Gunnar Nordling Ewy Nordling 1:36.35 1992 Rezon 4 Waldemar Hickst Arslangirej Savujev 1:36.53 1993 Nasr Allah 3 Andrasch Starke Fredy Scheffer 1:43.88 1994 Erminius 3 Kevin Woodburn Peter Rau 1:37.14 1995 A Magicman 3 Neil Grant Hartmut Steguweit 1:34.95 1996 Accento 3 Andreas Helfenbein Ralf Suerland 1:38.39 1997 Power Flame 4 Andreas Boschert Andreas Wöhler 1:36.58 1998 Power Flame 5 Andreas Boschert Andreas Wöhler 1:36.03 1999 El Divino 4 Georg Bocskai Mario Hofer 1:38.39 2000 Bernardon 4 Terence Hellier Peter Schiergen 1:40.48 2001 Aghnoyoh 3 Thierry Gillet Tony Clout 1:41.07 2002 Royal Dragon 4 L. Hammer-Hansen Peter Schiergen 1:36.47 2003 Peppercorn 6 Torsten Mundry Uwe Ostmann 1:36.83 2004 Eagle Rise 4 Terence Hellier Andreas Schütz 1:41.06 2005 Anna Monda 3 Torsten Mundry Peter Rau 1:37.17 2006 Lateral 3 William Mongil Peter Schiergen 1:35.08 2007 König Turf 5 Torsten Mundry Christian Sprengel 1:35.41 2008 Precious Boy 3 Adrie de Vries Waldemar Hickst 1:37.46 2009 Premio Loco 5 George Baker Chris Wall 1:35.21 2010 Alianthus 5 Adrie de Vries Jens Hirschberger 1:38.01 2011 Sommerabend 4 Gérald Mossé Uwe Stoltefuss 1:39.82 2012 Combat Zone 6 Norman Richter Mario Hofer 1:37.032013Samba Brazil4Andrea AtzeniJens Hirschberger1:39.542014Nordico3Eddy HardouinMario Hofer1:43.542015Pas De Deux5Antoine CoutierYasmin Almenrader1:37.642016Noor Al Hawa3Eduardo PedrozaAndreas Wohler1:37.052017Delection Girl3Eduardo PedrozaAndreas Wohler1:38.622018Degas5Adrie de VriesMarkus Klug1:35.46
Earlier winners
1951: Fuchstanz 1952: no race 1953: Harmodius 1954: Nizam 1955: Magus 1956: Augustus 1957: Feuerball 1958: Opernsänger 1959: Olivetto 1960: Kaiseradler 1961: Aspiration 1962: Thiggo 1963: Thiggo 1964: Lucius 1965: Sissu 1966: Spielhahn 1967: Spielhahn 1968: Lohengrin 1969: Delabarre 1970: Bernod 1971: Arcaro
See also List of German flat horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1951 – this race is included under its original title, Grosser Kaufhof-Preis.
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galopp-sieger.de – Grosse Europa-Meile. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Grosse Europa-Meile (2012). pedigreequery.com – Grosse Europa-Meile.