G1 Races in Japan
GⅠ Races in Japan
All G1, G2, G3, and OP races held by JRA are currently international races.
(Grades were established for Japanese races starting in 1984, but they were domestic proprietary ratings.)
Flat-G1 races held by JRA
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Geld.) |
GⅠ Start Year Domestic / International |
|
| February Stakes | Tokyo D1600 |
over 4 / CFG | 1997 / 2007 | 1984-1993 February Handicap (G3) 1994-1996 February Stakes (G2) |
| Takamatsunomiya Kinen | Chukyo T1200 |
over 4 / CFG | 1996 / 2007 | 1984-1995 Takamatsunomiya Hai (G2 Turf 2000) 1996-1997 Takamatsunomiya Hai (G1 Turf 1200) 1998- Takamatsunomiya Kinen |
| Osaka Hai | Hanshin T2000 |
over 4 / CFG | 2017 / 2017 | 1984-2016 Sankei Osaka Hai (G2) |
| Oka Sho | Hanshin T1600 |
3 / F | 1984 / 2010 | Classic Race The first of the Triple Crown for Fillies |
| Satsuki Sho | Nakayama T2000 |
3 / CF | 1984 /2010 | Classic Race The first of the Triple Crown (for Colts) |
| Tenno Sho (Spring) | Kyoto T3200 |
over 4 / CFG | 1984 / 2007 | |
| NHK Mile Cup | Tokyo T1600 |
3 / CF | 1996 / 2009 | |
| Victoria Mile | Tokyo T1600 |
over 4 / F | 2006 / 2009 | |
| Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) |
Tokyo T2400 |
3 / F | 1984 / 2010 | Classic Race The second of the Triple Crown for Fillies |
| Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) |
Tokyo T2400 |
3 / CF | 1984 / 2010 | Classic Race The second of the Triple Crown (for Colts) |
| Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo T1600 |
over 3 / CFG | 1984 / 2004 | |
| Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin T2200 |
over 3 / CFG | 1984 / 2001 | |
| Sprinters Stakes | Nakayama D1200 |
over 3 / CFG | 1990 / 2005 | 1984-1986 G3 1987-1989 G2 |
| Shuka Sho | Kyoto T2000 |
3 / F | 1996 / 2009 | The third of the Triple Crown for Fillies |
| Kikuka Sho | Kyoto T3000 |
3 / CF | 1984 / 2010 | Classic Race The third of the Triple Crown (for Colts) |
| Tenno Sho (Autumn) | Tokyo T2000 |
over 3 / CFG | 1984 / 2007 | |
| Queen Elizabeth II Cup | Kyoto T2200 |
over 3 / F | 1984 / 2008 | 1970-1975 Victoria Cup (Turf 2400 3yo) 1976-1983 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Turf 2400 3yo) 1984- 1995 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1 Turf 2400 3yo) 1996- Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1 Turf 2200 over 3yo) |
| Mile Championship | Kyoto T1600 |
over 3 / CFG | 1984 / 2004 | |
| Japan Cup | Tokyo T2400 |
over 3 / CFG | 1984 / 1992 | International Invitational Race |
| Champions Cup | Chukyo D1800 |
over 3 /CFG | 2000 / 2008 | 2000-2007 Japan Cup Dirt (G1 Tokyo Dirt 2100) 2008-2013 Japan Cup Dirt (G1 Hanshin Dirt 1800) 2014- Champions Cup (G1 Chukyo Dirt 1800) |
| Hanshin Juvenile Fillies | Hanshin T1600 |
2 / F | 1984 / 2010 | 1984-1990 Hanshin Sansai Stakes (G1 colt/filly) 1991-2000 Hanshin Sansai Himba Stakes (G1 filly) 2001- Hanshin Juvenile Fillies |
| Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes | Hanshin T1600 |
2 / CF | 1984 / 2010 | |
| Arima Kinen | Nakayama T2500 |
over 3 / CFG | 1984 / 2007 | |
| Hopeful Stakes | Nakayama T2000 |
2 / CF | 2017 / 2017 | Originally, another race with the same name, the Hopeful Stakes, was held, but the predecessor of the Hopeful Stakes, now a G1 race, is the Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes. The original Hopeful Stakes is no longer held. |
Triple Crown Races
- Satsuki Sho, Tokyo, Yushun (Japanese Derby), and Kikuka Sho are known as the Triple Crown for Colts or the Classic Triple Crown.
Triple Crown winners and their years of achievement are Saint Lite (St. Lite) (1941), Shinzan (1964), Mr. C.B. (1983), Symboli Rudolf (1984), Narita Brian (1994), Deep Impact (2005), Orfevre ( 2011), Contrail (2020). - Oka Sho, Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), and Shuka Sho are known as the Triple Crown for Fillies.
Before the creation of the Shuka Sho, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and its predecessor, the Victoria Cup, were the third Triple Crown race for fillies.
Triple Crown winners and their years of achievement are Mejiro Ramonu (1986), Still in Love (2003), Apapane (2010), Gentildonna (2012), Almond Eye (2018), Daring tact (2020). - Kurifuji, who won the races that are now Derby, Oaks and Kikuka Sho in 1943, is referred to as an anomalous Triple Crown winner.
- Although not officially named, winning the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup, and Arima Kinen in the same year is known as the Autumn Old Horse Triple Crown, and a special reward is given to the winner.
The achieved horses were T.M. Opera O (2000), Zenno Rob Roy (2004). - Since the Osaka Hai became a G1 race in 2017, winning the Osaka Hai, Tenno Sho (Spring), and Takarazuka Kinen is known as the Spring Old Horse Triple Crown, and a special reward is given to the winner.
None have achieved it.
Spring-Autumn G1 winners since 1984
- Spring-Autumn Sprint G1 (Takamatsunomiya Kinen and Sprinters Stakes) winners
Flower Park (1996 Spring-Autumn), Trot Star (2001 S-A), Believe (2002-2003 A-S), Laurel Guerreiro (2009 S-A), Curren Chan (2011-2012 A-S), Lord Kanaloa (2012-2013 A-S-A), Fine Needle (2018 S-A) - Spring-Autumn Mile G1 (Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship) winners
Nihon Pillow Winner (1985 S-A), Nippo Teio (1987-1988 A-S), Oguri Cap (1989-1990 A-S), North Flight (1994 S-A), Trot Thunder (1995-1996 A-S), Taiki Shuttle (1997-1998 A-S), Air Jihad (1999 S-A), Agnes Digital (2000,2003 A-S), Daiwa Major (2006-2007 A-S-A), Maurice (2015 S-A), Indy Champ (2019 S-A), Gran Alegria (2020,2021 S-A-A) - Spring-Autumn Tenno Sho winners
Tamamo Cross (1988 S-A), Super Creek (1989-1990 A-S), Special Week (1999 S-A), T.M. Opera O (2000-2001 S-A-S), Meisho Samson (2007 S-A), Kitasan Black (2016,2017 S-S-A), - Spring-Autumn Grand Prix (Takarazuka Kinen and Arima Kinen) winners
Inari One (1989 S-A), Mejiro Palmer (1992 S-A), Mayano Top Gun (1995-1996 A-S), Grass Wonder (1998-1999 A-S-A), T.M. Opera O (2000 S-A), Deep Impact (2006 S-A), Dream Journey (2009 S-A), Orfevre (2011-2012,2013 A-S-A), Gold Ship (2012-2013,2014 A-S-S), Lys Gracieux (2019 S-A), Chrono Genesis (2020,2021 S-A-S) - Spring-Autumn Dirt G1 (February Stakes and Champions Cup) winners
Wing Arrow (2000 S-A), Kane Hekili (2006,2008 S-A), Vermilion (2007-2008 A-S), Espoir City (2009-2010 A-S), Transcend (2010-2011 A-S-A), Gold Dream (2017 S-A)
Five Major Races & Eight Major Races
- Before the grading system was established, the following races, referred to as the Five Major Races and the Eight Major Races, were the major races in Japan.
- Five Major Races (Classic Races)
Satsuki Sho, Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Kikuka Sho, Oka Sho, Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) - Eight Major Races
Five Major Races, Tenno Sho (Spring), Tenno Sho (Autumn), Arima Kinen - Takarazuka Kinen was a major race, but not one of the eight major races.
Yasuda Kinen and Sprinters Stakes have been around for a long time, but short distance races have been neglected.
J・G1, J・G2, J・G3 are the domestic proprietary ratings for steeplechase racing.
J・G1 races (Steeplechase)
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Geld.) |
GⅠ Start Year Domestic |
|
| Nakayama Grand Jump | Nakayama J4250 |
over 4 / CFG | 1999 | Originally, Nakayama Daishogai (Spring) |
| Nakayama Daishogai | Nakayama J4100 |
over 4 / CFG | 1999 | Originally, Nakayama Daishogai (Autumn) |
As of 2023, all G1 races held in the NAR other than Tokyo Daishoten are domestic ratings and are referred to as JPN1.
One reason is that many NAR tracks are not ready to accept foreign horses.
NAR only holds dirt races, except for a very small number of races.
In 2022, it was announced that JRA and NAR will deepen their partnership.
In other words, dirt races held by NAR will be promoted more from now on.
It has also been announced that NAR will aim to make their races internationally raced and to obtain international grades.
G1 races held by NAR
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Geld.) |
GⅠ Start Year Domestic / International |
|
| Kawasaki Kinen (JPN1) | Kawasaki D2100 |
over 4 / CFG | 1998 | |
| Kashiwa Kinen (JPN1) | Funabashi D1600 |
over 4 / CFG | 2005 | |
| Teio Sho (JPN1) | Ohi D2000 |
over 4 / CFG | 1997 | |
| Japan Dirt Derby (JPN1) | Ohi D2000 |
3 / CFG | 1999 | |
| Mile Championship Nambu Hai (JPN1) | Morioka D1600 |
over 3 / CFG | 1997 | |
| JBC Ladies’ Classic (JPN1) | over 3 / F | 2013 | ||
| JBC Sprint (JPN1) | over 3 / CFG | 2001 | ||
| JBC Classic (JPN1) | over 3 / CFG | 2001 | ||
| Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (JPN1) | Kawasaki D1600 |
2 / CFG | 2002 | Since 2018, it has been done as an international race, although it is not an international grade. |
| Tokyo Daishoten (G1) | Ohi D2000 |
over 3 / CFG | 1997 / 2011 |
- The tracks on which the JBC is held change from year to year.
- The Derby Grand Prix, which used to be held on the 2000-meter dirt track at Morioka Race Course, returned to the grade in 2008.
The name “GI” tends to be lumped together, but Japan is the American style. In other words, it is not “Group I”, which is the European name, but “Grade I”, which is the American name.
I am not sure if there is an official rule, but strictly speaking, Roman numerals are often used instead of Arabic numerals. (On this site, they are referred to as G1, G2, and G3.)