Topic
- Dirt racing grading has begun.
These were Japan’s own rating, like many other turf races, and were not international G1 races.
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February Stakes hosted by JRA was promoted from a G2 race to a G1 race.
Teio Sho, Mile Championship Nambu Hai, Derby Grand Prix, Tokyo Daishoten, and Kawasaki Kinen, hosted by the associations belonging to NAR, became G1 races.
(Kawasaki Kinen would be from the next year.) - Hokuto Vega ran in the second Dubai World Cup, but fell and died of a broken bone.
- Sunny Brian won the Double Crown.
- Air Groove won the JRA Award for Horse of the Year for the first time in 26 years as a filly.
- The three top horses, Sakura Laurel, Mayano Top Gun and Marvelous Sunday, faced off in the Tenno Sho (Spring).
The final standings from first to third place were also dominated by the top three horses.
This race is considered a famous and great race.
G1 races held by JRA
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Gelding) | 1st |  |
| February Stakes | Tokyo D1600 |
over 4 / CFG | Shinko Windy | ◆ |
| Oka Sho | Hanshin T1600 |
3 / F | Kyoei March | ◆ |
| Satsuki Sho | Nakayama T2000 |
3 / CF | Sunny Brian | ◆ |
| Tenno Sho (Spring) | Kyoto T3200 |
over 4 / CF | Mayano Top Gun | ◆ |
| NHK Mile Cup | Tokyo T1600 |
3 / CF | Seeking the Pearl | ◆ |
| Takamatsunomiya Hai | Chukyo T1200 |
over 4 / CFG | Shinko King | ◆ |
| Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) | Tokyo T2400 |
3 / F | Mejiro Dober | ◆ |
| Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) | Tokyo T2400 |
3 / CF | Sunny Brian | ◆ |
| Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo T1600 |
over 3 / CFG | Taiki Blizzard | ◆ |
| Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin T2200 |
over 3 / CFG | Marvelous Sunday | ◆ |
| Shuka Sho | Kyoto T2000 |
3 / F | Mejiro Dober | ◆ |
| Tenno Sho (Autumn) | Tokyo T2000 |
over 3 / CF | Air Groove | ◆ |
| Kikuka Sho | Kyoto T3000 |
3 / CF | Matikanefukukitaru | ◆ |
| Queen Elizabeth II Cup | Kyoto T2200 |
over 3 / F | Erimo Chic | ◆ |
| Mile Championship | Kyoto T1600 |
over 3 / CFG | Taiki Shuttle | ◆ |
| Japan Cup | Tokyo T2400 |
over 3 / CFG | Pilsudski (UK) | ◆ |
| Hanshin Sansai Himba Stakes | Hanshin T1600 |
2 / F | Ein Bride | ◆ |
| Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes | Nakayama T1600 |
2 / CG | Grass Wonder | ◆ |
| Sprinters Stakes | Nakayama T1200 |
over 3 / CFG | Taiki Shuttle | ◆ |
| Arima Kinen | Nakayama T2500 |
over 3 / CFG | Silk Justice | ◆ |
G1 races held by NAR
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Gelding) | 1st | |
| Teio Sho | Ohi D2000 |
over 4 / CFG | Concert Boy | ◆ |
| Mile Championship Nambu Hai | Morioka D1600 |
over 3 / CFG | Taiki Sherlock | ◆ |
| Derby Grand Prix | Morioka D2000 |
3 / CFG | T.M.Megaton | ◆ |
| Tokyo Daishoten | Ohi D2800 |
over 3 / CFG | Toyo Seattle | G |
JRA Award
| Horse of the Year | Air Groove |
| Best Two-Year-Old Colt | Grass Wonder |
| Best Two-Year-Old Filly | Ein Bride |
| Best Three-Year-Old Colt | Sunny Brian |
| Best Three-Year-Old Filly | Mejiro Dober |
| Best Older Male Horse | Marvelous Sunday |
| Best Older Filly or Mare | Air Groove |
| Best Sprinter or Miler | Taiki Shuttle |
| Best Dirt Horse | / |
| Best Steeplechase Horse | Our Paragon |
| Best Horse By Home-bred Sire | Mejiro Dober |
| Leading sire in Japan | Sunday Silence |
| ← 1996 | All | 1998 → |