In a year that has been anything but normal, one thing we can count on is a strong international presence at this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course. Two hundred and one horses were pre-entered for this year’s event with 39 making the trip from outside North America.

One-mile races on the grass are, in my opinion, the best races in the sport of Thoroughbred racing for betting and pure enjoyment. It is a distance and surface that draws sprinters stretching out, true milers, and more stamina-oriented racehorses cutting back in distance and often seeing a completely different race shape.

These one-mile grass races are a true test of ability and class, and over the years the Breeders’ Cup Mile has often produced a winner almost as notable, if not more so, than the Classic victor.