Grosse Europa-Meile
# Grosse Europa-Meile

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)

## Winners since 1972

* ↑ Banyumanik finished first in 2000, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry

## 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
