The Champions Cup ( JPN G-1, formerly the ''Japan Cup Dirt'' until 2013) is a

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 ...

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 ...

contested in

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 ...

in early December. It is run for three-year-olds and older at a distance of 1,800 meters. In recent years, the race has followed the

Japan Cup The is one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan. It is contested on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters (about miles) run under weight for age conditions with ...

on the Japanese racing calendar.

Race information

* Racecourse:

Chukyo Racecourse is located in Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. It is used for horse racing 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 com ...

* Distance: 1,800 meters (About 9.

furlongs A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...

), Dirt, Right-handed * Qualification to run: 3-y-o & Up * Weight: 3-y-o colts &

gelding A gelding is a castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male equine to be calmer and better-behaved, makin ...

s 55 kg * 3-y-o fillies 53 kg * 4-y-o & up horses & geldings 57 kg * 4-y-o & up mares 55 kg * Safety Factor: 16 (There will be a maximum of 8 foreign-trained starters)

2008 changes

The race was moved from

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 ...

Hanshin Racecourse is located in Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan. It has a capacity of 139,000 and it is used for horse racing. The land was originally owned by Kawanishi Aircraft Company, which manufactured combat planes during World War II. After the World War II, GH ...

in 2008. The Japan Cup Dirt had been overshadowed by its turf counterpart (the

) in recent years, because turf racing in Japan typically remains more popular and attracts better horses. Attendance for the 2007 Japan Cup Dirt was 56,052, while the attendance for the turf race the following day was 103,545. With the move to Hanshin, the Japan Cup Dirt was shortened from its original distance of 2,100 meters (about furlongs) to 1,800 meters (about 9 furlongs). Now run one week after the Japan Cup, the Japan Cup Dirt shares the weekend with the "World Super Jockeys Series" featuring jockeys from around the world.

2014 changes

The ''Japan Cup Dirt'' was moved to

in 2014 and renamed the ''Champions Cup''. According to the Japan Racing Association, the decision to make changes to the race was because of a lack of international participation. The new Champions Cup race will be run left-handed, as opposed to the right turns run since the race moved from Tokyo to Hanshin in 2008. The purse of the race will be reduced to ¥94 million - compared to ¥130 million for the 2013 running - and it will no longer be an invitational race. The 2014 running is scheduled for Sunday, December 7.

Purse

(For the 2007 running)Japan Cup Dirt 2007
The Japan Association for International Horse Racing. Accessed April 24, 2007 Total JPN ¥277,900,000 (U.S$. 2,416,000) * 1st JPN ¥130,000,000 (U.S$. 1,103,000) * 2nd JPN ¥52,000,000 (U.S$. 452,000) * 3rd JPN ¥33,000,000 (U.S$. 286,000) * 4th JPN ¥20,000,000 (U.S$. 173,000) * 5th JPN ¥13,000,000 (U.S$. 113,000) Like counterpart Japan Cup, as being one of the 4 GI races in Japan Autumn International Series since 2008, a bonus is added to the top 3 if they are not trained in Japan, and raced in one of the following races and finished likewise in same year. If multiple bonus applies, only the highest one counts.

Winners

*2000, 2001, 2003–2007:

, 2,100 meters, counter-clockwise (left-handed) *2002:

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 ...

, 1,800 meters, clockwise (right-handed) *2008–2013:

, 1,800 meters, clockwise *2014–present (scheduled):

, 1,800 meters, counter-clockwise

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 - Japan Racing Association
{{Japanese Grade I horse races Open middle distance horse races Dirt races in Japan