The is a Grade 1

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

in for

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

colts and fillies aged four and over run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Hanshin Racecourse. The race is also known as the (until 2016) and the Ōsaka Cup. The race is run in early April. It was first run in 1957 over 1800 metres. The distance was increased to 1900 metres in 1966 before the race was run over its current distance for the first time in 1972. Among the winners of the race have been

Katsuragi Ace Katsuragi Ace ( ja, カツラギエース, link=no, 24 April 1980 – 3 July 2000) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1984 Japan Cup, becoming the first Japanese-trained horse to win the race. He won twice as a t ...

, Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen,

Air Groove Air Groove (in Japanese: エアグルーヴ, foaled April 6th, 1993 ~ April 23rd, 2013) is a Japanese racehorse and the winner of the 1996 Yushun Himba. Career Air Groove's first race was on October 29, 1995, at the Icho Stakes, where she came ...

Neo Universe Neo Universe ( ja, ネオユニヴァース, link=no) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. In 2003 he won the Satsuki Shō and the Tokyo Yūshun (Japanese Derby), but was defeated when attempting to complete the Japanes ...

Meisho Samson Meisho Samson (Japanese : メイショウサムソン, March 7, 2003 - ) is a Japanese racehorse which won the Tokyo Yūshun and Satsuki Sho in 2006, and the Tenno Sho (Spring and Autumn) in 2007. Stud career Meisho Samson's descendants include: ...

, Daiwa Scarlet,

Orfevre Orfevre ( ja, オルフェーヴル, link=no, foaled May 14, 2008) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and active breeding stallion. In 2011 he won the Japanese Triple Crown and was voted Japanese Horse of the Year. In 2012 he added vic ...

and

Kizuna is a Japanese word meaning "bond". It may also refer to: Music * ''Kizuna'' (album), a 2022 album by JO1 * "Kizuna" (Aya Matsuura song) * "Kizuna" (Aya Ueto song) * "Kizuna" (Orange Range song) * "Kizuna", a song from the anime Mermaid Melody Pich ...

. The Ōsaka Hai was promoted from Grade 2 status (as it has been since 1984) to Grade 1 in 2017. Prior to 2017, the race was known as the Sankei Ōsaka Hai and served as a trial race for the spring edition of the

Tenno Sho The is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade I races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Gr ...

. From 2017 the winner will have a guaranteed and complimentary entry to that season's Irish Champion Stakes.

Records

Speed record: *1:57.8 Hiruno d'Amour ''2011'' Most successful horse (2 wins): * Sunrise Pegasus – ''2002, 2005''

Winners since 1992

Earlier winners

* 1957 – Homare Ichi * 1958 – Katsura Homare * 1959 – Kiyo Sugata * 1960 – Wildeal * 1961 – Kodame * 1962 – Sugihime * 1963 – Ryu Z * 1964 – Tetsuno O * 1965 – Young Hero * 1966 – Ballymoss Nisei * 1967 – Ryu Pharos * 1968 – Yama Pit * 1969 – Date Horai * 1970 – Shunsaku O * 1971 – Tokino Shin O * 1972 – Kei Takashi * 1973 – Takuma O * 1974 – Nihon Pillow Moutiers * 1975 – Sky Leader * 1976 – Long Hawk * 1977 – Gold Eagle * 1978 – King Lanark * 1979 – Metro Jumbo * 1980 – Hashi Kranz * 1981 – Sancy Doll * 1982 – Sanei Tholon * 1983 – Hikari Duel * 1984 –

* 1985 – State Jaguar * 1986 – Sakura Yutaka O * 1987 – Nishino Raiden * 1988 – Fresh Voice * 1989 – Yaeno Muteki * 1990 – Super Creek * 1991 – White Stone

References

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 6 ...

: **, , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , {{DEFAULTSORT:Osaka Hai Turf races in Japan

Records

Winners since 1992

Earlier winners

See also

References