The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (''Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup'' until 2012) is an
International Grade 1 flat 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 Japan for three-year-old and above
thoroughbred fillies and
mares run over a distance of 2,200 metres (approximately 1 mile 3 furlongs) on the turf at
Kyoto Racecourse in November.
Originally called the Victoria Cup, it was renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 1975 to commemorate the visit of
Elizabeth II to Japan.
History
The race was first run in 1976 over a distance of 2,400 metres (1 mile 4 furlongs). It was originally for three-year-old fillies only and was the third leg of the
Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. In 1996, it was opened to older female horses and was reduced to its present distance. In the same year the
Shuka Sho was established and became the third leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown.
Since 1999 it turned into International Grade 1 race. In 2010
Snow Fairy
Snow Fairy (foaled 12 February 2007) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in Ireland and trained in England by Ed Dunlop. She made little impression on the racecourse as a two-year-old, winning only one race out of six. She started h ...
from England, being the first winner outside Japan. The following year she made Japanese flat racing history of being the first ever non-Japanese trained horse to win the same Grade 1 flat race back-to-back (second ever including
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:
* Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles
* Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...
, which
Karasi winning
Nakayama Grand Jump between 2005 and 2007).
It is the only Grade 1 race that is restricted to fillies and mares aged three or above. The other Grade 1 races for older female horses in Japan, the
Victoria Mile, excludes three-year-olds.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
*
Mejiro Dober Mejiro may refer to:
* Mejiro, Tokyo is a residential district of Toshima, Tokyo, Japan, centered at Mejiro Station of Yamanote Line.
* Another name for Warbling white-eye.
* Kurosaki Dojo - formerly known as Mejiro Gym, a Japanese kickboxing/MMA g ...
– ''1998, 1999''
*
Admire Groove – ''2003, 2004''
*
Snow Fairy
Snow Fairy (foaled 12 February 2007) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in Ireland and trained in England by Ed Dunlop. She made little impression on the racecourse as a two-year-old, winning only one race out of six. She started h ...
– ''2010, 2011''
*
Lucky Lilac – ''2019, 2020''
Winners
Kawakami Princess Kawakami may refer to:
People
* Kawakami (surname)
Places
* Kawakami District, Hokkaidō, a district in Hokkaidō
* In Okayama Prefecture,
** Kawakami, Okayama (Kawakami) was a town in the former Kawakami District
** Kawakami, Okayama (Maniwa) ...
finished first in 2006 but was demoted to 12th place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
The 2020, 2021 and 2022 races took place at
Hanshin Racecourse over a distance of 2200 metres.
See also
*
Horse racing in Japan
*
List of Japanese flat horse races
References
*Netkeiba:
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*
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
Middle distance horse races for fillies and mares
Turf races in Japan