The is a

Grade 1 First grade (also called Grade One, called ''Year 2'' in England or Primary 2 in Scotland) is the first grade in elementary school and the first school year after kindergarten. Children are usually 6–7 years old in this grade. Examples by re ...

flat Flat or flats may refer to: Architecture * Flat (housing), an apartment in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and other Commonwealth countries Arts and entertainment * Flat (music), a symbol () which denotes a lower pitch * Flat (soldier), ...

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 ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

for four-year-old and above

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 ...

s. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 8 furlongs) at

Tokyo Racecourse is located in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1933 for horse racing, it is considered the "racecourse of racecourses" in Japanese horseracing. It has a capacity of 223,000, with seating for 13,750. Tokyo Racecourse hosts numerous G1 (Grade 1) r ...

in late February. It was first run in 1984 as February Handicap, and was given Domestic Grade 3 status. This was elevated to Domestic Grade 2 in 1994, Domestic Grade 1 in 1997, and to its present level in 2007. It was renamed February Stakes in 1994. Horses from

National Association of Racing The National Association of Racing ( ja, 地方競馬全国協会 ''Chiho Keiba Zenkoku Kyokai'', or NAR) is the authority for horse races operated by local governments in Japan (Prefectures, cities/towns/villages or unions of them). NAR itself doe ...

(NAR) have been eligible to run in the race since 1995, and 2007 for horses not trained in Japan. This race and Champions Cup are the only Grade 1 dirt race organized by the JRA (the other international Grade 1 dirt race (

Tokyo Daishōten The Tokyo Daishōten (東京大賞典) is a Japanese thoroughbred horse race on dirt track for three years old and above. It is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs) at Ōi Racecourse in the Shinagawa, Tokyo in the end of the y ...

) and domestic Grade1 races are all organized by NAR). It is considered as the stepping race to the

Dubai World Cup Night Dubai World Cup Night is a series of eight thoroughbred horse races and one Purebred Arabian race held annually at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. From 1996 through to 2009, the event was held at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. Run ...

meetings' dirt races.

Records

Speed record: * 1.33.8 – Cafe Pharoah (2022) Most wins by a horse (2): * Copano Rickey (2014, 2015) * Cafe Pharoah (2021, 2022) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

(5): * Yutaka Take (2003, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2019) Most wins by a trainer (3): * Akira Murayama (2012, 2014, 2015) Most wins by an owner (2): * Katsumi Yoshida (2012, 2017) * Sachiaki Kobayashi (2014, 2015) * Shadai Race Horse Co (2003, 2013) * Takao Matsuoka (2002, 2007) * Yoshio Matsumoto (1993, 2005) * Koichi Nishikawa (2021, 2022)

Winners

# Meisei Opera, winner of the 1999 race, belongs to the

(NAR) but not

Japan Racing Association The Japan Racing Association ( ja, 日本中央競馬会 Nippon Chūō Keiba Kai, or JRA) is a public company established to operate Chūō Keiba (中央競馬 Central horse racing) and to manage racecourses, betting facilities, and horse-training ...

(JRA).
* The 2003 race took place at

Nakayama Racecourse is located in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. It is used for horse racing. It has a capacity of 165,676. It was built in 1990. Physical attributes Nakayama Race Course has two grass courses, a dirt course, and a jump course. The turf's measures 1840 ...

in distance of 1,800m.

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 ...

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External links

Horse Racing in Japan

{{Japanese Grade I horse races Open mile category horse races Dirt races in Japan Breeders' Cup Challenge series Recurring sporting events established in 1984 1984 establishments in Japan

Records

Winners

See also

References

External links