List of Japanese flat horse races

A list of notable flat horse races which take place annually in Japan. Except for the Tokyo Daishoten, all graded races are operated Japan Racing Association, including all conditions races which currently hold Grade 1, 2 or 3 status.^[1] In Japanese, it is called 重賞 (Jyūshō), lit Big race.

Grade 1

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Dist. (m)	Age/Sex	2023 winner (2022 winner in italics)	2022 win prize
February	February Stakes	Tokyo (dirt)^[a]	1,600	4yo+	Lemon Pop	¥120,000,000
March	Takamatsunomiya Kinen	Chukyo^[b]^[c]^[d]	1,200	4yo+	First Force	¥170,000,000
March	Osaka Hai	Hanshin^[e]^[f]	2,000	4yo+	Jack d'Or	¥200,000,000
April	Oka Sho	Hanshin^[e]^[f]^[g]	1,600	3yo f	Liberty Island	¥130,000,000
April	Satsuki Sho	Nakayama^[h]^[i]^[j]	2,000	3yo c&f	Sol Oriens	¥150,000,000
April	Tenno Sho (spring)	Kyoto^[k]^[l]	3,200	4yo+	Justin Palace	¥200,000,000
May	NHK Mile Cup	Tokyo	1,600	3yo c&f	Champagne Color	¥130,000,000
May	Victoria Mile	Tokyo	1,600	4yo+ f	Songline	¥130,000,000
May	Yushun Himba	Tokyo^[m]^[n]	2,400	3yo f	Stars On Earth	¥140,000,000
May	Tokyo Yushun	Tokyo^[o]	2,400	3yo c&f	Do Deuce	¥200,000,000
June	Yasuda Kinen	Tokyo^[p]	1,600	3yo+	Songline	¥180,000,000
June	Takarazuka Kinen	Hanshin^[f]^[q]^[r]^[s]	2,200	3yo+	Titleholder	¥200,000,000
September	Sprinters Stakes	Nakayama^[t]^[u]^[v]	1,200	3yo+	Gendarme	¥170,000,000
October	Shuka Sho	Kyoto^[l]	2,000	3yo f	Stunning Rose	¥110,000,000
October	Kikuka Sho	Kyoto^[l]	3,000	3yo c&f	Ask Victor More	¥150,000,000
October	Tenno Sho (autumn)	Tokyo^[p]^[w]	2,000	3yo+	Equinox	¥200,000,000
November	Queen Elizabeth II Cup	Kyoto^[b]^[x]	2,200	3yo+ f	Geraldina	¥130,000,000
November	Mile Championship	Kyoto^[x]	1,600	3yo+	Serifos	¥180,000,000
November	Japan Cup	Tokyo^[w]	2,400	3yo+	Vela Azul	¥400,000,000
December	Champions Cup	Chukyo (dirt)^[y]^[z]^[aa]	1,800	3yo+	Jun Light Bolt	¥120,000,000
December	Hanshin Juvenile Fillies	Hanshin^[ab]^ac	1,600	2yo f	Liberty Island	¥65,000,000
December	Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes	Hanshin^[ad]	1,600	2yo c&f	Dolce More	¥70,000,000
December	Arima Kinen	Nakayama	2,500	3yo+ c&f	Equinox	¥400,000,000
December	Hopeful Stakes	Nakayama^[ae]^[af]	2,000	2yo c&f	Dura Erede	¥70,000,000
December	Tokyo Daishoten	Ohi (dirt)	2,000	3yo+	Ushba Tesoro	¥100,000,000

^a The 2003 running took place at Nakayama while Tokyo was closed for redevelopment.

^b The 1979 running took place at Hanshin.

^c The 1993 running took place at Kyoto.

^d The 2011 running took place at Hanshin while Chukyo was closed for redevelopment.

^e The 1991 running took place at Kyoto while Hanshin was closed for redevelopment.

^f The 1995 running took place at Kyoto while Hanshin was closed due to 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.

^g The 1939-1943 runnings took place at Nakayama, the 1944 running took place at Tokyo and the 1947, 1948 and 1949 runnings took place at Kyoto as Hanshin had not finished construction.

^h The 1939-1942 runnings took place at Yokohama.

ⁱ The 1943, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1963, 1964, 1974, 1976 and 1988 runnings took place at Tokyo.

^j The 2011 running took place at Tokyo while Nakayama was closed due to 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

^k The 1994 running took place at Hanshin.

^l The 2021 and 2022 runnings took place at Hanshin while Kyoto was closed for redevelopment.

^m The 1938-1942 runnings took place at Hanshin.

ⁿ The 1943 running took place at Kyoto.

^o The 1932 and 1933 runnings took place at Meguro.

^p The 1967 running took place at Nakayama.

^q The 1966, 1969, 1974 and 1976 runnings took place at Kyoto.

^r The 1980 running took place at Chukyo.

^s The 1991 and 2006 runnings took place at Kyoto while Hanshin was closed for redevelopment.

^t The 1980 running took place at Tokyo.

^u The 2002 running took place at Niigata.

^v The 2014 running took place at Niigata while Nakayama was closed for redevelopment.

^w The 2002 running took place at Nakayama while Tokyo was closed for redevelopment.

^x The 2020, 2021 and 2022 runnings took place at Hanshin while Kyoto was closed for redevelopment.

^y The 2000, 2001 and 2003-2007 runnings took place at Tokyo.

^z The 2002 running took place at Nakayama.

^aa The 2008-2012 runnings took place at Hanshin.

^ab The 1956 and 1980 runnings took place at Kyoto.

^ac The 1990 running took place at Kyoto while Hanshin was closed for redevelopment.

^ad The 1949-2013 runnings took place at Nakayama.

^ae The 1984-1989 and 1991-2013 runnings took place at Hanshin.

^af The 1990 running took place at Kyoto.

Grade 2

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Dist. (m)	Age/Sex	2023 winner (2022 winner in italics)
January	Nikkei Shinshun Hai	Kyoto	2,400	4yo+	Weltreisende
January	American Jockey Club Cup	Nakayama	2,200	4yo+	North Bridge
January	Tokai Stakes	Chukyo (dirt)	1,800	4yo+	Promised Warrior
February	Kyoto Kinen	Kyoto	2,200	4yo+	Do Deuce
February	Nakayama Kinen	Nakayama	1,800	4yo+	Hishi Iguazu
March	Tulip Sho	Hanshin	1,600	3yo f	Mozu Meimei
March	Yayoi Sho	Nakayama	2,000	3yo	Tastiera
March	Fillies' Revue	Hanshin	1,400	3yo f	Sing That Song
March	Kinko Sho	Chukyo	2,000	4yo+	Prognosis
March	Spring Stakes	Nakayama	1,800	3yo c&f	Bellagio Opera
March	Hanshin Daishoten	Hanshin	3,000	4yo+	Justin Palace
March	Nikkei Sho	Nakayama	2,500	4yo+	Titleholder
April	New Zealand Trophy	Nakayama	1,600	3yo c&f	Eeyan
April	Hanshin Himba Stakes	Hanshin	1,600	4yo+ f	Sound Vivace
April	Flora Stakes	Tokyo	2,000	3yo f	Golden Hind
April	Yomiuri Milers Cup	Kyoto	1,600	4yo+	Schnell Meister
April	Aoba Sho	Tokyo	2,400	3yo	Skilfing
May	Kyoto Shimbun Hai	Kyoto	2,200	3yo	Satono Glanz
May	Keio Hai Spring Cup	Tokyo	1,400	4yo+	Red Mon Reve
May	Meguro Kinen	Tokyo	2,500	4yo+	Boccherini
August	Sapporo Kinen	Sapporo	2,000	3yo+	Jack d'Or
September	Centaur Stakes	Hanshin	1,200	3yo+	Meikei Yell
September	Rose Stakes	Hanshin	1,800	3yo f	Art House
September	St Lite Kinen	Nakayama	2,200	3yo	Gaia Force
September	Sankei Sho All Comers	Nakayama	2,200	3yo+	Geraldina
September	Kobe Shimbun Hai	Hanshin	2,400	3yo c&f	Justin Palace
October	Mainichi Okan	Tokyo	1,800	3yo+	Salios
October	Kyoto Daishoten	Kyoto	2,400	3yo+	Vela Azul
October	Fuchu Himba Stakes	Tokyo	1,800	3yo+ f	Izu Jo No Kiseki
October	Fuji Stakes	Tokyo	1,600	3yo+	Serifos
October	Swan Stakes	Kyoto	1,400	3yo+	Diatonic
November	Keio Hai Nisai Stakes	Tokyo	1,400	2yo	Obambumurai
November	Copa Republica Argentina	Tokyo	2,500	3yo+	Breakup
November	Daily Hai Nisai Stakes	Kyoto	1,600	2yo	All Parfait
November	Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes	Tokyo	1,800	2yo	Gastrique
November	Stayers Stakes	Nakayama	3,600	3yo+	Silver Sonic
December	Hanshin Cup	Hanshin	1,400	3yo+	Diatonic

Grade 3

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Dist. (m)	Age/Sex	2023 winner (2022 winner in italics)
January	Nakayama Kimpai	Nakayama	2,000	4yo+	Lagulf
January	Kyoto Kimpai	Kyoto	1,600	4yo+	Elusive Panther
January	Shinzan Kinen	Kyoto	1,600	3yo	Light Quantum
January	Fairy Stakes	Nakayama	1,600	3yo f	Kita Wing
January	Keisei Stakes	Nakayama	2,000	3yo	Sol Oriens
January	Aichi Hai	Chukyo	2,000	4yo+ f	Art House
January	Negishi Stakes	Tokyo (dirt)	1,400	4yo+	Lemon Pop
January	Silk Road Stakes	Kyoto	1,200	4yo+	Namura Clair
February	Tokyo Shimbun Hai	Tokyo	1,600	4yo+	Win Carnelian
February	Kisaragi Sho	Kyoto	1,800	3yo	Hrimfaxi
February	Daily Hai Queen Cup	Tokyo	1,600	3yo f	Harper
February	Tokinominoru Kinen	Tokyo	1,800	3yo	Phantom Thief
February	Diamond Stakes	Tokyo	3,400	4yo+	Mixology
February	Kyoto Himba Stakes	Kyoto	1,400	4yo+ f	La La Christine
February	Kokura Daishoten	Kokura	1,800	4yo+	Hindu Times
February	Hankyu Hai	Hanshin	1,400	4yo+	Aguri
March	Ocean Stakes	Nakayama	1,200	4yo+	Vento Voce
March	Nakayama Himba Stakes	Nakayama	1,800	4yo+ f	Through Seven Seas
March	Flower Cup	Nakayama	1,800	3yo f	Emu
March	Falcon Stakes	Chukyo	1,400	3yo	Tamamo Black Tie
March	Mainichi Hai	Hanshin	1,800	3yo	Season Rich
March	March Stakes	Nakayama (dirt)	1,800	4yo+	Hayabusa Nandekun
March	Lord Derby Challenge Trophy	Nakayama	1,600	4yo+	Industria
April	Arlington Cup	Hanshin	1,600	3yo	Obamburumai
April	Antares Stakes	Hanshin (dirt)	1,800	4yo+	Promised Warrior
April	Fukushima Himba Stakes	Fukushima	1,800	4yo+ f	Stellaria
April	Niigata Daishoten	Niigata	2,000	4yo+	Red Galant
May	Heian Stakes	Kyoto (dirt)	1,900	4yo+	T O Keynes
May	Aoi Stakes	Kyoto	1,200	3yo	Win Marvel
June	Naruo Kinen	Hanshin	2,000	3yo+	Weltreisende
June	Epsom Cup	Tokyo	1,800	3yo+	North Bridge
June	Mermaid Stakes	Hanshin	2,000	3yo+ f	Win Mighty
June	Unicorn Stakes	Tokyo (dirt)	1,600	3yo	Peisha Es
June	Hakodate Sprint Stakes	Hakodate	1,200	3yo+	Namura Clair
June	Radio Nikkei Sho	Fukushima	1,800	3yo	Feengrotten
June	CBC Sho	Chukyo	1,200	3yo+	T M Spada
July	Tanabata Sho	Fukushima	2,000	3yo+	Echt
July	Procyon Stakes	Chukyo (dirt)	1,400	3yo+	Gempachi Lucifer
July	Hakodate Kinen	Hakodate	2,000	3yo+	Hayayakko
July	Chukyo Kinen	Chukyo	1,600	3yo+	Belenus
July	Hakodate Nisai Stakes	Hakodate	1,200	2yo	Bouton d'Or
July	Ibis Summer Dash	Niigata	1,000	3yo+	Believer
July	Queen Stakes	Sapporo	1,800	3yo+ f	Terzetto
August	Leopard Stakes	Niigata (dirt)	1,800	3yo	Kafuji Octagon
August	Kokura Kinen	Kokura	2,000	3yo+	Maria Elena
August	Sekiya Kinen	Niigata	1,600	3yo+	Win Carnelian
August	Elm Stakes	Sapporo (dirt)	1,700	3yo+	Full Depth Leader
August	Kitakyushu Kinen	Kokura	1,200	3yo+	Buon Voyage
August	Niigata Nisai Stakes	Niigata	1,600	2yo	Kita Wing
August	Keeneland Cup	Sapporo	1,200	3yo+	Venta Voce
August	Sapporo Nisai Stakes	Sapporo	1,800	2yo	Dura
September	Niigata Kinen	Niigata	2,000	3yo+	Karate
September	Kokura Nisai Stakes	Kokura	1,200	2yo	London Plan
September	Shion Stakes	Nakayama	2,000	3yo f	Stunning Rose
September	Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap	Nakayama	1,600	3yo+	Falconia
September	Sirius Stakes	Hanshin (dirt)	2,000	3yo+	Jun Light Bolt
October	Saudi Arabia Royal Cup	Tokyo	1,600	2yo	Dolce More
October	Artemis Stakes	Tokyo	1,600	2yo f	Ravel
November	Fantasy Stakes	Kyoto	1,400	2yo f	Rivara
November	Miyako Stakes	Kyoto (dirt)	1,800	3yo+	Sunrise Hope
November	Musashino Stakes	Tokyo (dirt)	1,600	3yo+	Gilded Mirror
November	Fukushima Kinen	Fukushima	2,000	3yo+	Unicorn Lion
November	Kyoto Nisai Stakes	Kyoto	2,000	2yo	Gruner Green
November	Keihan Hai	Kyoto	1,200	3yo+	Toshin Macau
November	Challenge Cup	Hanshin	2,000	3yo+	So Valiant
December	Chunichi Shimbun Hai	Chukyo	2,000	3yo+	Killer Ability
December	Capella Stakes	Nakayama (dirt)	1,200	3yo+	Remake
December	Turquoise Stakes	Nakayama	1,600	3yo+ f	Miss New York

Listed

From 2019, Japan Racing Association introduced new "Listed" category, prize value is higher than normal open race.

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Dist. (m)	Age/Sex
January	Junior Cup	Kyoto	1,600	3yo
January	New Year Stakes	Nakayama	1,600	4yo+
January	Kobai Stakes	Kyoto	1,400	3yof
January	Yodo Dankyori Stakes	Kyoto	1,200	4yo+
January	Wakagoma Stakes	Kyoto	2,000	3yo
January	Subaru Stakes	Kyoto	1,400	4yo+
January	Crocus Stakes	Tokyo	1,400	3yo
January	Shirafuji Stakes	Tokyo	2,000	4yo+
February	Rakuyo Stakes	Kyoto	1,600	4yo+
February	Hyacinth Stakes	Tokyo	1,600	3yo
February/March	Niigawa Stakes	Hanshin	2,000	4yo+
February/March	Sumire Stakes	Hanshin	2,200	3yo
March	Osaka Jo Stakes	Hanshin	1,800	3yo
March	Anemone Stakes	Nakayama	1,600	3yo
April	Wasurerunagusa Sho	Hanshin	2,000	3yof
April/May	Swept Pea Stakes	Tokyo	1,800	3yof
May	Principal Stakes	Tokyo	2,000	3yo
May	Shirayuri Stakes	Kyoto	1,800	3yo
June	Yoneko Stakes	Hanshin	1,600	3yo+
July/August	Sapporo Nikkei Open	Sapporo	2,600	3yo+
September/October	Port Island Stakes	Hanshin	1,600	3yo+
October	Opal Sprint Stakes	Kyoto	1,200	3yo+
October	Green Channel Stakes	Tokyo	1,400	3yo+
October	October Stakes	Tokyo	2,000	3yo+
October	Shinetsu Stakes	Niigata	1,400	3yo+
October	Ivy Stakes	Tokyo	1,800	2yo
October	Lumiere Autumn Dash	Niigata	1,000	3yo+
October	Brazil Cup	Tokyo	2,100	3yo+
October	Hagi Stakes	Kyoto	1,800	2yo
November	Capital Stakes	Tokyo	1,600	3yo+
December	December Stakes	Nakayama	1,800	3yo+

Other Open Races

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Dist. (m)	Age/Sex
January	Manyo Stakes	Nakayama	3,000	4yo+
January	January Stakes	Nakayama	1,200	4yo+
February	Kinpai	Ohi	2,600	4yo
August	Takeyoriwake Sho	Kochi Racecourse	1,400	3yo+
August	Hidamari Sho	Kokura	1,200	2yo Kyushu bred

NAR Graded Races (As listed race in international)

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Dist. (m)	Age/Sex
January	TCK Jo O Hai	Ohi	1,800	4yo+f
January	Kawasaki Kinen	Kawasaki	2,100	4yo+
May	Kashiwa Kinen	Funabashi	1,600	4yo+
June	Teio Sho	Ohi	2,000	4yo+
July	Japan Dirt Derby	Ohi	2,000	3yo
October	Mile Championship Nambu Hai	Morioka	1,600	3yo+
November	Japan Breeding farm's Cup Ladies' Classic	Various	1,800 (may be changed)	3yo+f
November	Japan Breeding farms' Cup Sprint	Various	1,200 (may be changed)	3yo+
November	Japan Breeding farms' Cup Classic	Various	2,000 (may be changed)	3yo+
November	Japan Breeding farms' Nisai Yushun	Monbetsu	1,800	2yo
December	Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun	Kawasaki	1,600	2yo

Former race

Last run	Race Name	Racecourse	Dist. (m)	Age/Sex
Mar 1993	Pegasus Stakes	Hanshin	1,600	3yo
March 2005	Crystal Cup	Nakayama	1,200	3yo
April 2004	Kabutoyama Kinen	Fukushima	1,800	4yo+ sire domestic bred
May 1999	Kyoto Yonsai Tokubetsu	Kyoto	2,000	3yo
Sep 1993	Sapphire Stakes	Hanshin	1,800	3yof
October 1975	Victoria Cup	Kyoto	2,400	3yof

References

1. "List of JRA Graded Races 2019｜List of JRA Graded Races｜Horse Racing in Japan". Horse Racing in Japan.