Japan Cup facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Japan Cup

Grade 1 race
ジャパンカップ (Japan Kappu) Japan's most prestigious horse race
Location	Tokyo Racecourse Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
Inaugurated	1981
Race type	Thoroughbred
Website	Japan Cup - Racing Information
Race information
Distance	2400 meters (About 12 furlongs / 1+1⁄2 miles)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	3-y-o & Up, Thoroughbreds (safety factor: 18 horses; up to ten foreign-trained starters are allowed in the race)
Weight	3-y-o 56 kg \ 4-y-o & up 58kg Allowances 2 kg for fillies and mares 2 kg for S. Hemisphere 3-y-o
Purse	¥ 1,080,000,000 (as of 2024) 1st: ¥ 500,000,000 2nd: ¥ 200,000,000 3rd: ¥ 125,000,000
Bonuses	Additional money awarded if winner won in qualified international races (see below) plus ¥3,500,000 to the winning owner Winner of Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup, Arima Kinen Domestic: ¥ 200,000,000 International: ¥ 100,000,000

The Japan Cup (ジャパンカップ, Japan Kappu) is one of the most famous and important horse races in Japan. It happens on the last Sunday of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo. Horses race 2400 meters (about 1.5 miles) on a grass track. Up to 18 horses can compete.

The Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world. It offers a huge prize of ¥1,085 million (about US$8.3 million). This race is special because it's an invitational event. This means only certain horses are asked to join. Over the years, horses from many different countries have won, including Japan, the USA, Britain, Australia, and France.

The Japan Racing Association created the Japan Cup in 1981. They wanted Japanese racehorses to compete against the best horses from around the world. It also helps build good relationships within the horse racing community globally.

Prize Money

The Japan Cup offers a very large amount of prize money. It is one of the richest horse races in the world.

Here's how the prize money is split for the 2023 and 2024 races:

• 1st place: JPN ¥500,000,000 (about US$3.8 million)
• 2nd place: JPN ¥200,000,000 (about US$1.5 million)
• 3rd place: JPN ¥130,000,000 (about US$992,000)
• 4th place: JPN ¥75,000,000 (about US$572,000)
• 5th place: JPN ¥50,000,000 (about US$381,000)

Extra Bonuses

Sometimes, extra money is given to the winner of the Japan Cup. This is especially true for horses trained outside of Japan.

For example, if a foreign horse won certain big international races that year and then finished in the top three in the Japan Cup, they could get a bonus. There are also special bonuses for horses that win the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup, and Arima Kinen in the same year. This is like winning a "Triple Crown" of Japanese racing.

Race History

The first Japan Cup was held in 1981. Only horses from Japan, the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India were allowed to enter. An American mare named Mairzy Doates won this first race.

In 1982, the rules changed, and horses from all over the world could be invited. Another American horse, Half Iced, won that year. In 1983, an Irish mare named Stanerra won in a very close finish.

The race became officially ranked as an International Grade 1 race in 1984. This was a big deal because it was the first time two Japanese "Triple Crown" winners could race against each other. However, a less favored Japanese horse, Katsuragi Ace, won instead.

Japanese horses continued to win in 1985 with Symboli Rudolf. In 1986, Jupiter Island became the first British horse to win the Japan Cup. The French horse Le Glorieux won in 1987, and the American horse Pay The Butler won in 1988.

In 1989, a New Zealand mare named Horlicks won and set a world record for the 2400-meter distance. The next year, in 1990, Better Loosen Up from Australia won. These wins helped show how good horses from the Southern Hemisphere were.

An American horse named Golden Pheasant won in 1991. The Japanese horses then won for the next three years with Tokai Teio (1992), Legacy World (1993), and Marvelous Crown (1994).

In 1995, a German horse named Lando won the Japan Cup. British trainer Michael Stoute had great success, winning in both 1996 with Singspiel and 1997 with Pilsudski. Both were very strong international horses.

Japanese horses then won again with El Condor Pasa (1998), Special Week (1999), and T M Opera O (2000). In 1998, Japanese horses took the top three spots for the first time. Special Week gave famous Japanese jockey Yutaka Take his first Japan Cup win.

Jungle Pocket won in 2001. In 2002, the race was held at Nakayama Racecourse because Tokyo Racecourse was being fixed. The distance was a bit shorter that year. An Italian horse named Falbrav won in a very close finish.

The race returned to Tokyo Racecourse in 2003, and the Japanese horse Tap Dance City won by a huge nine lengths. Zenno Rob Roy kept the prize in Japan in 2004.

In 2005, Alkaased won in a photo finish, beating Heart's Cry by a nose. Alkaased also broke the world record time set by Horlicks in 1989. Deep Impact, a very famous Japanese horse, won in 2006.

In 2009, the mare Vodka won in another photo finish. She became the second richest racehorse in Japan and the world at that time.

The 2010 race had some controversy. Buena Vista crossed the finish line first but was moved to second place because of a small bump with Rose Kingdom. This decision caused a lot of discussion. However, Buena Vista did win the Japan Cup in 2011.

In 2012, there was another exciting race between two "Triple Crown" winners: Orfevre and Gentildonna. Gentildonna won, becoming the first three-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup. She then won again in 2013, making her the only horse to win the Japan Cup twice!

In 2014, Epiphaneia won, beating Gentildonna, who was trying for a third win. In 2015, Shonan Pandora became the seventh mare to win the trophy.

In 2016, the Japanese horse Kitasan Black, ridden by Yutaka Take, won the Cup. In 2017, Cheval Grand won after finishing third the year before.

The 2018 Japan Cup was won by the filly Almond Eye in a record time of 2:20.60. This was more than 1.5 seconds faster than the previous record! She won by a good distance over the other horses.

The 2020 Japan Cup was a huge race with three "Triple Crown" winners competing. Two of them, Contrail and Daring Tact, had never lost a race before. Almond Eye won the race for a second time, with Contrail second and Daring Tact third. This was Almond Eye's last race, and it was a great way for her to finish her career.

In 2021, Contrail won the Japan Cup. In 2022, Vela Azul was the winner. The 2023 race was won by Equinox. In 2024, Do Deuce won the Japan Cup.

Records

Speed record: (at the current 2400m distance)

• 2:20.6 – Almond Eye (2018)

Most wins:

• 2 – Gentildonna (2012, 2013)
• 2 – Almond Eye (2018, 2020)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – Yutaka Take (1999, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 2 – Michael Stoute (1996, 1997)
• 2 – Hiroyoshi Matsuda (2007, 2011)
• 2 – Katsuhiko Sumii (2009, 2014)
• 2 – Sei Ishizaka (2012, 2013)
• 2 – Yasuo Tomomichi (2017, 2024)
• 2 – Sakae Kunieda (2018, 2020)

Most wins by an owner:

• 4 – Sunday Racing (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Winners

The 2002 race took place at Nakayama Racecourse over a distance of 2,200 metres. Rose Kingdom finished 2nd to Buena Vista in 2010 but was promoted to 1st place because Buena Vista was disqualified.

Fun Facts

• The Japan Cup is featured in the horse simulation game Derby Owners Club.

Fun Facts About the Japan Cup

The Japan Cup is even featured in the horse simulation game Derby Owners Club.

See also

In Spanish: Japan Cup para niños

• Horse racing in Japan
• List of Japanese flat horse races