Japan Cup

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Japan Cup
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November 30, 2025 (2025-11-30)
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November 29, 2026 (2026-11-29)
Japan Cup.jpg
Japan Cup 20071125R1.jpg
ジャパンカップ (Japan Kappu)
ClassGroup 1
Location Tokyo Racecourse
Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
InauguratedNovember 22, 1981(44 years ago) (1981-11-22)
Race typeThoroughbred
Sponsor Longines
Website Japan Cup - Racing Information
Race information
Distance2400 metres
(about 12 furlongs / 1+1⁄2 miles)
Record Calandagan, 2:20.3
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification3-year-olds & up, Thoroughbreds (safety factor: 18 horses; up to ten foreign-trained starters are allowed in the race)
Weight3-year-old 56 kg / 4-year-old & up 58 kg
Allowances
Purse ¥  1,090,000,000 (as of 2025)
1st: ¥ 500,000,000
2nd: ¥ 200,000,000
3rd ¥ 130,000,000
BonusesAdditional money awarded if winner won in qualified international races (see below) plus ¥ 3,500,000 to the winning owner.
  • Winner of Tennō Shō (Autumn), Japan Cup, Arima Kinen
  • Domestic: ¥ 300,000,000
  • International: ¥ 150,000,000

The Japan Cup (ジャパンカップ, Japan Kappu; JPN G-1) is a Group 1 horse race in Japan, held annually on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchū, Tokyo. It is a flat race ran over a distance of 2400 metres (about 1+1⁄2 miles, or 12 furlongs) with a maximum of 18 horses.

Contents

First run in 1981, the Japan Cup was originally created by the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) in order for local racehorses to have the opportunity to compete against horses of an international calibre and to promote goodwill within the racing community worldwide. Similar to races such as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup and the Breeders' Cup, the Japan Cup is an international invitational event, with invitations extended to top-performing horses aged 3 and above from around the world, particularly those who have won or placed highly in other major Group 1 races in the year. The race is one of the world's richest, reaching a total prize purse of over one billion yen in 2023, with winners of the event frequently breaking national or international prize money records. It is often one of the most attended races of the year hosted by the JRA, regularly reaching 100,000 people in attendance. [1] [2] It is also the middle leg of the informal "Autumn Triple Crown", a series consisting of the autumn Tennō Shō, the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen; the JRA offers a large bonus to any horse that wins all three.

Despite a relatively short history compared to other horse races, the Japan Cup has established itself as an international contest with winners from all over the world, and is regularly ranked highly in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)'s annual "Top 100 Group 1 Races of the Year" compilation due to its high quality and depth of racers. In the early history of the event, the race was dominated by foreign horses, with 14 of the first 25 races' winners coming from abroad. However, in recent years the number of competing overseas horses has significantly declined, and in the last twenty years only one horse from outside of Japan has won the race.

Course

Aerial view of the Tokyo Racecourse taken in 2019 Tokyo-Racecourse aerial 2019.jpg
Aerial view of the Tokyo Racecourse taken in 2019

The Japan Cup is held at the Tokyo Racecourse, situated in the western Tokyo suburb of Fuchū. At 2,400 metres long, the race is run counter-clockwise around the Racecourse's oval turf track, which uses a blend of Noshiba grass and Italian ryegrass. [3] The Japan Cup uses Tokyo Racecourse's A-course configuration, [4] which has the track's fence rail in its innermost position. This configuration means the circumference measures 2,083 m (1.29 mi; 10.35 furlongs) and the width of the race varies from 31 to 41 m (102 to 135 ft), offering racers ample room to manoeuvre and overtake other racers, as well as avoid being boxed in, in ways that are not always available in similar lengthed races. [5]

There are several undulations across the track, varying in size and length over the race's duration, with a sharp rise of 1.2 m (4 ft) over 60 m (200 ft) halfway through the race being one of the more challenging obstacles. The homestretch is one of the longest in Japanese racing at 525 m (1,722 ft), which often leads to dramatic late finishes. At 400 m (1,310 ft) to the post, there is a sharp 2 metres of elevation gain over the next 120 m (394 ft), requiring the horses to conserve their stamina in the race to overcome this final hurdle. The final stretch after this is flat, allowing for the racers to focus entirely on one last spurt of speed towards the post. [4] [6]

Due to the race's length and demanding finish, the race tends to favour strong closers who can handle the uphill run and quickly accelerate in the final straight. Despite the race starting in the homestretch about 300 m (984 ft) before the winning post, beginning the race with a long 325 m (1,066 ft) before the first corner [7] and theoretically minimising early positional advantages, analysis of the 2014 to 2024 races shows that the horses that start near the inner fence are notably more likely to win the race. [8]

Race history

Origins and early years (1981–1988)

The inaugural running (1981)

From the race's conception, the motive behind the Japan Cup's creation was the JRA's desire to ensure the horses racing in Japan were up to par with the quality of international horses. [9] [10] Prior to its creation, and even in the years after, options were limited in Japan for foreign horses, with the majority of races only allowing Japanese horses to compete, leaving Japan's horses isolated from the outside world. [11] As such, the Japan Cup offered a unique opportunity to determine how Japan compared to the rest of the world. The idea of "creating strong horses that can compete on the world stage" had been proposed by the JRA since at least the 1970s, [12] although efforts early in that decade to hold an international events collapsed because of disagreements between the JRA and other countries over the specific horses invited. [13] By the start of the 1980s, the JRA's relations with the main racing authorities in other countries had developed enough for the JRA to host their proposed international race. [14]

The finish of the inaugural 1981 Japan Cup, with Mairzy Doates (furthest right, pink cap) passing the post one length ahead of Frost King (nearest the rail, white cap). The best performing Japanese horse, Gold Spencer (yellow cap), can be seen some distance behind Mairzy Doates and Frost King. Finish of the 1981 Japan Cup.png
The finish of the inaugural 1981 Japan Cup, with Mairzy Doates (furthest right, pink cap) passing the post one length ahead of Frost King (nearest the rail, white cap). The best performing Japanese horse, Gold Spencer (yellow cap), can be seen some distance behind Mairzy Doates and Frost King.

The inaugural running of the Japan Cup took place in 1981, with invites being sent to trainers in Japan, the United States, Canada and India. A horse from Turkey, Dersim, was also invited to attend, but was injured shortly after arriving in Japan and could not race. [16] The original line-up of international horses was at the time deemed nothing special. The most prestigious horse of the group was The Very One, a horse that, while having won twelve graded stakes races in 1978 and 1979, was now six years old and nearing the end of her career. Conversely, in Japan the horses representing the country were viewed more favourably, featuring the top three placing racers in the year's recent autumn Tennō Shō [17] as part of a wider side described at the time as an "all star cast". [16]

The race was won by the American mare Mairzy Doates, ridden by Cash Asmussen, who finished a length [b] ahead of Canadian-trained Frost King. Japan's best performance was Gold Spencer placing fifth. [18] The disparity in the two sides' performance came as a major surprise to the JRA officials, who had anticipated that one of their horses would secure the victory. The race has been credited as a turning point in Japan's efforts to seriously compete at an international level in horse racing. [19] [20] [16] When writing about the Japan Cup's events, historian Ryōji Motomura noted the depth of the initial disappointment, writing that: "Those who watched that race must have sighed in deep regret, thinking that it would be another 20 years before a Japanese horse won the Japan Cup, something that would happen in the 21st century." [21]

Early runnings in the 1980s (1982–1988)

In the Japan Cup's second year the original entry restrictions were eased, allowing broader international participation from Europe and Oceania. However, the race was once again won by an American horse. Half Iced, the last international horse to enter the race, [22] narrowly defeated French fillies All Along and April Run, with the Irish mare Stanerra in fourth. Like last time, the best performing Japanese horse, Hikari Duel, placed fifth. [23]

Stanerra returned the next year after a successful season in Europe, having recently won the Group 2 Prince of Wales's Stakes and Group 1 [c] Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes, and won the Cup by a head over Japanese-trained Kyoei Promise, with France's Esprit Du Nord a close third. [25] At the time, Stanerra's victory was highlighted by the Liverpool Daily Post as an example of the growing trend in the 1980s of European mares matching the racing performance of stallions. [26] Her victory has also been credited with strengthening the Republic of Ireland's diplomatic relations with Japan; since 1990, the winner of the Japan Cup is traditionally presented with the Ambassador of Ireland Prize by the Irish Government. [27]

Katsuragi Ace, the first Japanese winner, mid-race in the 1984 Japan Cup. Katsuragi Ace.jpg
Katsuragi Ace, the first Japanese winner, mid-race in the 1984 Japan Cup.

1984 was the first year Japanese horse races received grading, and the Japan Cup was officially classified as an International Group 1 race. [6] [28] The race itself marked the first ever showdown between two Japanese Triple Crown winners, Mr. C. B. and the undefeated Symboli Rudolf. The two horses had won their Triple Crowns a year apart, the first two to do so in twenty years after Shinzan achieved the accolade in 1963. This at the time led to much discussion by Japanese horseracing fans over which of the two horses was superior, with an expectation that one of the two horses would be the first Japanese horse to win the event in the "Triple Crown Showdown". [29] However, it was the lesser-fancied Japanese Katsuragi Ace who claimed victory, defeating British-trained Bedtime by 1+1⁄2 lengths, with Symboli Rudolf narrowly behind in third and Mr C. B. trailing in tenth. [30] [31] Japan achieved a second victory the next year, with Symboli Rudolf returning to triumph over Japanese-trained Rocky Tiger. [32]

In 1986, Jupiter Island, trained by Clive Brittain and ridden by Pat Eddery, became the first British-trained horse to win the Japan Cup, narrowly defeating fellow British runner Allez Milord. [33] Unusually for the event's history up until that point, the result was only confirmed after an inquiry by racecourse stewards following an objection by Allez Milord's rider Greville Starkey, who alleged the two horses had collided 60 metres from the post. [34] Jupiter Island's victory more than doubled the previous prize money the horse had accumulated in his previous forty starts. [35] At seven years old, Jupiter Island remains the oldest horse to win the Cup. [36]

The French-trained Le Glorieux, trained by Robert Collet and ridden by Alain Lequeux, captured the 1987 edition, [37] while Pay the Butler, trained by Robert J. Frankel and ridden by Chris McCarron, secured the United States' third victory in the race. [38] Having previously only won a single major race, the Group 2 Red Smith Handicap ran six months prior, Pay the Butler's win in 1988 was regarded as a major upset over the year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Tony Bin and Japanese favourites Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross. [38] [39] [40]

A decade of global competition (1989–1997)

The 1989 race was narrowly won by New Zealand six-year-old mare Horlicks, beating Oguri Cap by a neck. In doing so, she set a new world record time for 2400 metres [41] [42] and became Australia and New Zealand's highest stakes winner. [43] Horlicks' win marked the beginning of a decade of several countries vying for supremacy in the Japan Cup, with no single nation remaining on top for long. In 1990, Better Loosen Up became the first Australian-trained winner, prevailing in a close finish over France's Ode and Britain's Cacoethes. [44] In 1991, the United States achieved its fourth victory in the Japan Cup through Golden Pheasant. The horse, trained by Charlie Whittingham, was the rare example of a horse jointly owned by two parties (Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team owner Bruce McNall and NHL ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky), and has been credited for revitalising interest in the event in the United States. [45]

For the next three years, Japanese-trained horses triumphed in the event, although in each event an overseas horse placed second. In 1992, Tokai Teio emerged victorious, [46] followed by Legacy World in 1993 [47] and Marvelous Crown in 1994. [48] The 1993 race also saw the only instance in the Japan Cup's history of a fine being handed out after the race; the French horse Kotashaan's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, was fined $460 (equivalent to $1,000in 2024) after mistaking the 100 meter mark for the finish post and easing his horse. [49] [50]

Despite bookmakers expecting a fourth straight Japanese win through Hishi Amazon, [51] [52] in 1995 the Japan Cup was won for the first time by a German-trained horse, Lando. Lando's victory, which his jockey Michael Roberts has stated is his greatest memory, [53] was a great breakthrough for the German cohort of entrants, with no German horse placing in the top five in the previous races. The race also marked the first time any Japanese horse failed to place in the top five, with Narita Brian finishing sixth 1+3⁄4 lengths behind the American horse Awad. [54]

The mid-1990s also saw notable success for British trainer Michael Stoute, who captured back-to-back victories in the Japan Cup. In 1996 the Irish horse Singspiel narrowly defeated his rivals by a nose, [55] becoming Britain's leading prize money earner. [56] The year after Pilsudski, another Irish runner, claimed victory by a neck in his final career start, making Japan the fifth country he won a G1 race in. [57] Singspiel's jockey, Frankie Dettori, was originally scheduled to ride in 1997 as well, on the British horse Mons. However, Dettori was replaced a week before by Michael Kinane after receiving a riding ban due to numerous infractions that year. [58] Dettori, who in his initial response highlighted his shock at having to miss the Japan Cup specifically, [58] had to wait until 2002 to enter the race again and subsequently secure his second Japan Cup victory.

The rise of Japanese dominance and the origins of the Autumn Triple Crown (1998–2004)

El Condor Pasa, the winner of the 1998 Japan Cup. El Condor Pasa 19991128I1.jpg
El Condor Pasa, the winner of the 1998 Japan Cup.

In the years that followed, there was a noticeable shift in the Japanese contingent's performance. In 1998, the Japanese-trained American horse El Condor Pasa led a historic sweep for Japan, finishing ahead of fellow Japanese horses Air Groove and Special Week in the first-ever one-two-three in the race's history for Japanese-based horses. [59] Special Week went on to win the next year's race against a strong international field, including the year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Montjeu from Ireland, who placed fourth. Yutaka Take was Special Week's jockey for the race, and remarked at the time it'd been a long-time goal of his to win the event; Take went on to win the Japan Cup several times on multiple horses over the next three decades. [60] [61]

In 2000, the Japanese horse T. M. Opera O entered the Japan Cup unbeaten for the season and maintained his year-long record, defeating his compatriots Meisho Doto by a neck and Fantastic Light a nose behind in third. With this win and prize money, T. M. Opera O became the highest-earning racehorse in world history at ¥1,216,477,000, overtaking the North American record held by Cigar and the previous Japanese record held by Special Week. [62] T. M. Opera O went on to win the year's Arima Kinen race; having already won the year's autumn Tennō Shō race as well, he was awarded an additional ¥200,000,000 by the JRA for winning the three races, an accomplishment popularly dubbed as completing the "Autumn Triple Crown." The same reward has been offered every year since to any horse that is able to win the trifecta of races. [63] [64]

Japan's strong performances in the race continued in 2001, when Jungle Pocket, winner of the Tōkyō Yūshun, closely defeated T. M. Opera O by a neck. Japanese-trained horses filled the top five positions. Golan, trained in Britain by Michael Stoute, was the best foreign finisher of the race in sixth place. [65]

The Japan Cup was temporarily moved in 2002 to Nakayama Racecourse due to renovations at Tokyo Racecourse. The race was held on the right-handed outer loop course, switching the race's direction and reducing its distance to 2,200 m (1.37 mi; 10.94 furlongs). [66] The year also marked Italy's best result in the race, with the Italian-trained Falbrav securing a narrow victory over the American-trained Sarafan, with Japanese runner Symboli Kris S finishing a close third. Falbrav was ridden by Frankie Dettori, making him the first jockey to win the event multiple times. [67]

The race returned to Tokyo the next year. Finishing nine lengths in front of his Japanese compatriots That's The Plenty and Symboli Kris S, Tap Dance City went wire-to-wire to achieve the largest winning margin ever recorded in the race's history. [68] The 2004 edition saw Zenno Rob Roy, ridden by Olivier Peslier, led home another Japanese sweep of the podium, against a series of lackluster performances from the international racers. [69] Having already won in the year's autumn Tennō Shō, Zenno Rob Roy went go on to triumph in the Arima Kinen the following month, becoming the second, and most recent, horse to achieve the Autumn Triple Crown. [63]

The beginning of the international win drought and homegrown legends (2005–2011)

In 2005, British-trained Alkaased, ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Japan Cup in a photo finish over the Japanese horse Heart's Cry, with Zenno Rob Roy finishing third. The race set a new world record for the race's 2,400 metres at 2:22.1, surpassing the previous record set by Horlicks in 1989. [70] [71]

In 2006, a few weeks after being disqualified from the year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after testing positive for ipratropium, [72] Japanese thoroughbred Deep Impact returned to racing in his country at the Japan Cup and secured victory in the penultimate race of his career. [73] [74] He was later named Japanese Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year, in part due to his victory at the event. [75] A similar set of circumstances occurred the year later, when the Japanese Admire Moon won the Japan Cup by a head over Pop Rock; [76] this was Admire Moon's final race before retiring, and contributed to him being named Japanese Horse of the Year for 2007. [77] [78]

Screen Hero was considered an outsider in the 2008 race, having competed in only four races that year following an 11-month hiatus due to a leg injury. Sent off at odds of 40/1, he defied expectations to win the race, finishing half a length ahead of Deep Sky. [79]

After finishing fourth in 2007 and third in 2008, the Japanese mare Vodka finally claimed victory in her third attempt at the Japan Cup in 2009, winning in a photo finish by a nose over the 2008 Kikuka-shō winner Oken Bruce Lee. Vodka's final time of 2:22.4 ranked as the third-fastest in the race's history, and marked the first time a Japanese mare had won the event, [80] as well as making her the first mare worldwide to earn over $10 million in prize money in their career. [81]

The 2010 race ended with a controversial disqualification. [82] [83] Buena Vista, the race favourite, finished first past the post two lengths ahead of Rose Kingdom. However, following an inquiry Buena Vista was officially relegated to second position, having been determined to have abruptly veered inward on the final straight and impeding Rose Kingdom's progress. This meant Rose Kingdom was declared the winner. [84] [85] The disqualification was unpopular both within Japan and internationally due to Buena Vista's strong performance in the race, with the race's stewards being referred to as incompetent, and led to the JRA to begin revising the rules around inquiries to meet international horse racing standards. [85] [86] Buena Vista returned in 2011 to claim the title outright. [82] [83]

Record-setters and Triple Crown showdowns (2012–2020)

Gentildonna's double victory (2012–2014)

Gentildonna at the 2013 Japan Cup, becoming the first horse to win twice in the event. Gentildonna Japan Cup 2013(IMG1).jpg
Gentildonna at the 2013 Japan Cup, becoming the first horse to win twice in the event.

In 2012, the final stretch of the race came down to Orfevre, the 2011 Japanese Triple Crown winner, facing off against compatriot Gentildonna, the 2012 Fillies' Triple Crown winner. In a closely contested ending, Gentildonna narrowly claimed victory. However, while Gentildonna crossed the finish line first, she made contact with Orfevre in the final stretch. A stewards' inquiry confirmed that interference had occurred but allowed the result to stand, issuing only a suspension to her jockey Yasunari Iwata. [87] [86] Gentildonna returned the next year to win the Japan Cup again, becoming the first horse to have won the Japan Cup twice. [88] Gentildonna attempted a third consecutive victory in 2014 in her final race, but came fourth whilst Japanese thoroughbred Epiphaneia, who had entered the race at the relatively low odds of 15–1, claimed victory. [89]

The 2014 race was also the first race in the event's history to be sponsored, [90] after the JRA began searching for suitable sponsors the previous year following a gradual decade-long decline in turnover. [91] 2014 also saw the first yearly release of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' "Top 100 Group 1 Races of the Year for 3yo's and upwards" report, an analysis of every Group 1 race's quality based on the IFHA's rating of the top-placing horses over the last three runnings of the race. [92] The Japan Cup placed eighth in this initial report, [93] and since then has regularly placed in the top ten each year, including first in 2023. [94] [95]

Almond Eye and the late 2010s (2015–2020)

The Japanese filly Shonan Pandora captured the 2015 edition, becoming the seventh mare to win the race. [96]

Kitasan Black went wire-to-wire to comfortably win the 2016 race, with fellow Japanese racers Sounds of Earth and Cheval Grand finishing second and third respectively 2+1⁄2 lengths behind Kitasan Black. [97] Cheval Grand returned the year after to claim victory, with Rey de Oro taking second and Kitasan Black finishing third in his final Japan Cup appearance. The win also secured the top position in the 2016 Longines World's Best Jockey Rankings for Hugh Bowman, who rode Cheval Grand. [98]

In 2018 Alkaased's course record was broken, when Almond Eye clocked 2:20.6 on firm ground. The race was another all-Japanese top-three sweep, with Almond Eye finishing 1+3⁄4 lengths ahead of Kiseki, with Suave Richard in third. [99] Her performance received great praise from commentators, including her being called one of the greatest horses both in Japan [100] and the world. [101]

Suave Richard crossing the finish line in first place at the 2019 Japan Cup Suave Richard Japan Cup 2019(IMG1).jpg
Suave Richard crossing the finish line in first place at the 2019 Japan Cup

The 2019 Japan Cup was the first race in the event's history in which all the entrants were domestic racers, with no international horses signing up for the event. It also acted as a memorial race for the 2006 winner Deep Impact, who had been euthanised in July earlier that year. Several runners, including runner-up Curren Bouquetd'or and third-placed Wagnerian, were progeny of the late Deep Impact. [102] Suave Richard, who instead was sired by Heart's Cry, secured victory, delivering a strong late run to win under British Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy. [103] [104]

The 2020 Japan Cup had a significant amount of excitement prior to the event due to a very strong line-up, [105] in particular featuring three Triple Crown winners; the 2018 Japanese Fillies Triple Crown winner Almond Eye, the undefeated 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail, and the undefeated 2020 Japanese Fillies Triple Crown winner Daring Tact. [106] These three horses all placed in the top three, with Almond Eye in her final race triumphing in the Japan Cup once again by 1+1⁄4 lengths over Contrail and Daring Tact. [107] [108] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 also marked the lowest crowd attendance in the race's history by a significant margin at 4,604 people, [2] following the JRA's decision to hold all of their races that year behind closed doors. [109]

Recent races and the end of the Japanese streak (2021–2025)

Contrail avenged his loss from the previous year by winning the 2021 Japan Cup in what was his final race, finishing two lengths ahead of the Japanese racehorse Authority. [110] Despite racing only three times previously in the year, Contrail had been the odds-on favourite due to his strong showing in races the year prior. [111] His victory at the Japan Cup contributed to him securing the 2021 JRA award for Best Older Colt or Horse. [112]

In spite of only recently switching from dirt tracks to racing on turf tracks, Japanese Vela Azul was the victor in the 2022 race, his first G1 title. [113] [114] The horse had spent the majority of his previous races (16 out of 21) on dirt tracks, only making the switch to turf at the Awaji Tokubetsu event in March 2022, five races before the Japan Cup. [115] The favourite to win, fellow Japanese racehorse Shahryar, placed second, and in the closing moments of the race was involved in an incident where he drifted left in the closing stages and significantly impeded Danon Beluga's progress. Following the race the JRA stewards judged this careless riding and banned Shahryar's rider, Cristian Demuro, from racing for four days. [116]

2023 was another year with a line-up considered especially strong. Several of the Japanese horses in the lineup had previously achieved numerous victories in Grade 1 races, such as the year's Saudi Cup's winner Panthalassa and the seventh winner of the Japanese Triple Tiara, Liberty Island. [117] Equinox, having won his last five G1 races and at the time being rated the world's highest rated horse by the IFHA, [118] entered the race as the odds-on favourite. Despite the quality of the competition, Equinox won convincingly, with his victory widely described by reporters and the race's commentators [119] as a commanding win for the horse. [120] [121] The strength of Equinox's performance, combined with the overall depth of the field, led to two honours: Equinox was subsequently given the IFHA's "Longines World's Best Racehorse" award for 2023, and the Japan Cup itself won the IFHA's "Longines World's Best Horse Race" award for the year. [122]

Running near the back of the racers for much of the race, Do Deuce surged forward in the race's final stretch to win the 2024 Japan Cup in his penultimate race, which resulted in him being awarded both the JRA Japanese Horse of the Year award and the JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse for 2024. [123] [124] The victory also marked jockey Yutaka Take's record fifth win in the event's history. [123] [125]

The Irish-born and French-trained Calandagan was the sole entrant from outside of Japan in 2025. However, in the lead-up to the event he was considered one of the best horses from overseas in recent years, [126] having previously won three Group 1 races in the year, being ranked at the top of the Longines World's Best Racehorses Rankings, and being awarded the title of Cartier Horse of the Year. [127] Calandagan lived up to his strong reputation, surging in the last 300 metres to beat Masquerade Ball by a head, breaking the world record for 2,400m on turf set by Almond Eye in the 2018 Japan Cup and marking the end of Japan's winning streak of 19 years. [128] [129] The race itself also drew attention from reporters for featuring three jockeys getting thrown off their horses. [130] [131]

Decline in international participation and performance

Participation of foreign horses in the Japan Cup (1981 - 2024), by total number and %. Participation of Foreign Horses in the Japan Cup (1981 - 2024).png
Participation of foreign horses in the Japan Cup (1981 - 2024), by total number and %.

In between the American horse Alkaased's and the Irish horse Calandagan's victories in 2005 and 2025 respectively, only one other horse from outside Japan has placed in the top three; the British Ouija Board, who was third in 2006. All other horses in the top three in this twenty-year period were born and trained in Japan, with the exception of the 2024 Cup's runner-up Shin Emperor, who was born in France and brought over to Japan as a foal. [132] The number of international horses has also declined; while over half of the horses in the inaugural race were from abroad, by 2024 there would be only three. [133] In more extreme cases, the number of international racers was even lower; Iresine, a French horse, and Calandagan were the only international entries in 2023 and 2025 respectively, and no international horses competed in 2019. These circumstances have led to commentators raising concerns about the Japan Cup maintaining its prestige or describing it as having "lost its way". [134] [135] However, it has also been argued that the homogeneity of the Japan Cup's winners since the 2000s is nothing unique and is instead an example of the home-advantage trends seen in other international horse races. [136]

The decline in international participation and performance is often attributed to the rise in the overall strength of Japanese horses since the early 2000s. [134] [137] [138] Several factors contribute to this trend, with the most commonly cited reason being the great success of leading sires Sunday Silence and Northern Dancer, whose progeny from the 1990s onwards have consistently performed at a high level and produced numerous Group 1 winners. [139] [140] Additionally, the JRA has focused on encouraging trainers to breed their horses with international bloodlines to enhance their competitive edge, [141] [142] as well as building facilities such as the Bloodhorse Training Center  [ jp ] to facilitate further training and research. [15] [143]

The increasingly busy international racing calendar may also be a contributing factor to the decline in the number of international participants. In the Japan Cup's first years, November was "a time when once a comfortable silence fell over flat racing". [35] However, since 1981, numerous high-profile worldwide competitions have been established in the winter months, such as the Breeders' Cup and the Hong Kong Vase. With similar levels of prestige and prize money, these races have given trainers a wider range of available international options to choose from, [56] [144] and has led to suggestions that the Japan Cup should be moved to a less competitive time of the year. [135]

Concerns have also been raised about the logistical challenges involved with bringing foreign horses to Japan. The process, which involves lengthy amounts of travel and quarantine, can distress the horses involved, further making the idea of participating in a Japanese race unappealing to foreign racers. [145] In 2022, the JRA opened a new quarantine stable near Tokyo Racecourse to help solve this problem and make travel to Japan for the Japan Cup more enticing for trainers. [146] [147] The issues surrounding horses traveling from abroad have been noted as a problem since the early years of the Japan Cup. The 1983 winner Stanerra arrived in Tokyo in bad shape from the flight and required six hours of walking daily before her race to rebuild her strength, [148] while the 1989 winner Horlicks needed the use of a dressing mirror to help distract her while in Japan to overcome her stress and loneliness after the long journey from New Zealand. [149] [150]

Purse and qualification

Throughout its history, the Japan Cup has been repeatedly described as one of the world's richest races. [d] In the original 1981 race, the prize pool totalled over ¥123,000,000 (equivalent to ¥160,000,000in 2019), [18] with a reported US$282,600 (equivalent to US$980,000in 2024) earnings for winner Mairzy Doates. [154] The purse's size increased steadily over the years, with the prize pool nearly ¥250,000,000 (roughly US$3.61 million [49] ) by 1992. [155] By 2023, the prize pool had reached over a billion yen. [156]

While the list of qualifying races varies slightly each year, typically foreign horses that win notable Group 1 races outside of Japan will be invited to participate in the Japan Cup, with the incentive of an additional prize if they place well. [157] Japanese horses undergo standard JRA selection based on previous performances and the amount of prize money they have won. [158] [159] Horses that participate in the race and have also achieved victory in other specific JRA races in the year will also be eligible for bonuses. [160] For example, in 2025, the criteria were as follows:

Invitation and bonus criteria for the 2025 Japan Cup [5] [64] [161]
CriteriaRaces involvedBonus
Foreign based horse invited after winning one of the following:
  • 1st place in Japan Cup: US$3,000,000
  • 2nd place: US$1,200,000
  • 3rd place: US$750,000
  • 4th place: US$450,000
  • 5th place: US$300,000
  • 6th or lower: US$200,000
Other invitational horses:N/AUS$100,000 regardless of placing
Horse wins any three of the following races in the same year:
  • ¥200 million for Japanese-bred horse
  • ¥100 million for non-Japanese bred horse
Horse completes the year's Autumn Triple Crown:
  • ¥300 million for Japanese-bred horse
  • ¥150 million for non-Japanese bred horse

Records

Leading horse: [162]

Leading jockey: [162]

Leading trainers: [162]

Leading owner: [162]

Winners

Individual race results and prize money derived from the Netkaiba, Racing Post and JRA weblinks listed under References.

Winners of the Japan Cup
YearWinner (CB)AgeJockeyTrainerOwnerTimeTop 5 Purse
1981Flag of the United States.svg  Mairzy Doates  (USA)5Flag of the United States.svg  Cash Asmussen  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg John Fulton (USA)Flag of the United States.svg Arno Schefler (USA)2:25.3¥123,500,000
1982Flag of the United States.svg  Half Iced  (USA)3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Don MacBeth  (CAN)Flag of the United States.svg  Stanley M. Hough  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Bertram R. Firestone  (USA)2:27.1¥134,000,000
1983Flag of Ireland.svg  Stanerra  (IRE)5Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Rouse (GB)Flag of Ireland.svg Frank Dunne (IRE)Flag of Ireland.svg Frank Dunne (IRE)2:27.6¥137,200,000
1984Flag of Japan.svg  Katsuragi Ace  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg Katsuichi Nishiura (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Kazumi Domon (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Ichizo Node (JPN)2:26.3¥142,500,000
1985Flag of Japan.svg  Symboli Rudolf  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg  Yukio Okabe  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Yuji Nohira (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Symboli Bokujo (JPN)2:28.8¥148,800,000
1986Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Jupiter Island  (GB)7Flag of Ireland.svg  Pat Eddery  (IRE)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Clive Brittain  (GB)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Marquess of Tavistock  (GB)2:25.0¥152,000,000
1987Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Le Glorieux  (GB)3Flag of France.svg  Alain Lequeux  (FRA)Flag of France.svg  Robert Collet  (FRA)Flag of Germany.svg Sieglinde Wolf (GER)2:24.9¥161,500,000
1988Flag of the United States.svg  Pay the Butler  (USA)4Flag of the United States.svg  Chris McCarron  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Robert J. Frankel  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Edmund A. Gann  (USA)2:25.5¥180,500,000
1989Flag of New Zealand.svg  Horlicks  (NZL)6Flag of New Zealand.svg  Lance O'Sullivan  (NZL)Flag of New Zealand.svg  Dave O'Sullivan  (NZL)Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham de Gruchy (NZL)2:22.2¥195,300,000
1990Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Better Loosen Up  (AUS)5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Michael Clarke  (AUS)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  David Hayes  (AUS)Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gabe Farrah, et al. (AUS)2:23.2¥210,000,000
1991Flag of the United States.svg  Golden Pheasant  (USA)5Flag of the United States.svg  Gary Stevens  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Charles Whittingham  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Bruce McNall  (USA) [1] 2:24.7¥228,000,000
1992Flag of Japan.svg  Tokai Teio  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Okabe (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Shoichi Matsumoto (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Masanori Uchimura (JPN)2:24.6¥248,000,000
1993Flag of Japan.svg  Legacy World  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg Hiroshi Kawachi (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Hideyuki Mori (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Horse Tajima Co. (JPN)2:24.4¥248,000,000
1994Flag of Japan.svg  Marvelous Crown  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg Katsumi Minai (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Makoto Osawa (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Sadao Sasahara (JPN)2:23.6¥248,000,000
1995Flag of Germany.svg  Lando  (GER)5Flag of South Africa.svg  Michael Roberts  (SAF)Flag of Germany.svg  Heinz Jentzsch  (GER)Flag of Germany.svg Gestüt Haus Ittlingen (GER)2:24.6¥251,200,000
1996Flag of Ireland.svg  Singspiel  (IRE)4Flag of Italy.svg  Frankie Dettori  (ITA)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Michael Stoute  (GB)Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  Sheikh Mohammed  (UAE)2:23.8¥251,200,000
1997Flag of Ireland.svg  Pilsudski  (IRE)5Flag of Ireland.svg  Michael Kinane  (IRE)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Stoute (GB)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Lord Weinstock  (GB)2:25.8¥251,200,000
1998Flag of the United States.svg  El Condor Pasa  (USA)3Flag of Japan.svg  Masayoshi Ebina  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Yoshitaka Ninomiya (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Takashi Watanabe (JPN)2:25.9¥251,200,000
1999Flag of Japan.svg  Special Week  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg  Yutaka Take  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Toshiaki Shirai (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Hiroyoshi Usuda (JPN)2:25.5¥251,200,000
2000Flag of Japan.svg  T. M. Opera O  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg  Ryuji Wada  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Ichizo Iwamoto (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Masatsugu Takezono (JPN)2:26.1¥476,000,000
2001Flag of Japan.svg  Jungle Pocket  (JPN)3Flag of France.svg  Olivier Peslier  (FRA)Flag of Japan.svg Sakae Watanabe (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Yomoji Saito (JPN)2:23.8¥476,000,000
2002Flag of Ireland.svg  Falbrav  (IRE) [2] 4Flag of Italy.svg Frankie Dettori (ITA)Flag of Italy.svg Luciano d'Auria (ITA)Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Rencati (ITA)2:12.2¥476,000,000
2003Flag of the United States.svg  Tap Dance City  (USA)6Flag of Japan.svg Tetsuzo Sato (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Shozo Sasaki (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Yushun Horse Syndicate (JPN)2:28.7¥476,000,000
2004Flag of Japan.svg  Zenno Rob Roy  (JPN)4Flag of France.svg Olivier Peslier (FRA)Flag of Japan.svg  Kazuo Fujisawa  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg  Shinobu Oosako  (JPN)2:24.2¥476,000,000
2005Flag of the United States.svg  Alkaased  (USA)5Flag of Italy.svg Frankie Dettori (ITA)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Luca Cumani  (GB)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Charlton (GB)2:22.1¥476,000,000
2006Flag of Japan.svg  Deep Impact  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg Yutaka Take (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Yasuo Ikee (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg  Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co.  (JPN)2:25.1¥476,000,000
2007Flag of Japan.svg  Admire Moon  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg  Yasunari Iwata  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Hiroyoshi Matsuda (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg  Darley Japan Farm Co. Ltd.  (JPN)2:24.7¥476,000,000
2008Flag of Japan.svg  Screen Hero  (JPN)4Flag of Italy.svg  Mirco Demuro  (ITA)Flag of Japan.svg Yuichi Shikato (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg  Teruya Yoshida  (JPN)2:25.5¥476,000,000
2009Flag of Japan.svg  Vodka  (JPN)5Flag of France.svg  Christophe Lemaire  (FRA)Flag of Japan.svg  Katsuhiko Sumii  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Yuzo Tanimizu (JPN)2:22.4¥481,520,000
2010Flag of Japan.svg  Rose Kingdom  (JPN) [3] 3Flag of Japan.svg Yutaka Take (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Kojiro Hashiguchi (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Sunday Racing (JPN)2:25.2¥481,400,000
2011Flag of Japan.svg  Buena Vista  (JPN)5Flag of Japan.svg Yasunari Iwata (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Hiroyoshi Matsuda (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Sunday Racing (JPN)2:24.2¥480,920,000
2012Flag of Japan.svg  Gentildonna  (JPN)3Flag of Japan.svg Yasunari Iwata (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Sei Ishizaka (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Sunday Racing (JPN)2:23.1¥481,100,000
2013Flag of Japan.svg Gentildonna (JPN)4Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Ryan Moore  (GB)Flag of Japan.svg Sei Ishizaka (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Sunday Racing (JPN)2:26.1¥481,400,000
2014Flag of Japan.svg  Epiphaneia  (JPN)4Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Christophe Soumillon  (BEL)Flag of Japan.svg Katsuhiko Sumii (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg U Carrot Farm (JPN)2:23.1¥481,460,000
2015Flag of Japan.svg  Shonan Pandora  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg  Kenichi Ikezoe  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Tomokazu Takano (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Tetsuhide Kunimoto (JPN)2:24.7¥575,400,000
2016Flag of Japan.svg  Kitasan Black  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg  Yutaka Take  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Hisashi Shimizu (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg  Ono Shoji  (JPN)2:25.8¥575,340,000
2017Flag of Japan.svg  Cheval Grand  (JPN)5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Hugh Bowman  (AUS)Flag of Japan.svg  Yasuo Tomomichi  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg  Kazuhiro Sasaki  (JPN)2:23.7¥575,220,000
2018Flag of Japan.svg  Almond Eye  (JPN)3Flag of France.svg Christophe Lemaire (FRA)Flag of Japan.svg Sakae Kunieda (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Silk Racing (JPN)2:20.6¥577,344,000
2019Flag of Japan.svg  Suave Richard  (JPN)5Flag of Ireland.svg  Oisin Murphy  (IRE)Flag of Japan.svg Yasushi Shono (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg NICKS Co, Ltd (JPN)2:25.9¥574,560,000
2020Flag of Japan.svg Almond Eye (JPN)5Flag of France.svg Christophe Lemaire (FRA)Flag of Japan.svg Sakae Kunieda (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Silk Racing (JPN)2:23.0¥574,620,000
2021Flag of Japan.svg  Contrail  (JPN)4Flag of Japan.svg  Yuichi Fukunaga  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg  Yoshito Yahagi  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Maeda (JPN)2:24.7¥575,460,000
2022Flag of Japan.svg  Vela Azul  (JPN)5Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ryan Moore (GB)Flag of Japan.svg Kunihiko Watanabe (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg U Carrot Farm (JPN)2:23.7¥765,580,000
2023Flag of Japan.svg  Equinox  (JPN)4Flag of France.svg Christophe Lemaire (FRA)Flag of Japan.svg  Tetsuya Kimura  (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Silk Racing (JPN)2:21.8¥960,520,000
2024Flag of Japan.svg  Do Deuce  (JPN)5Flag of Japan.svg Yutaka Take (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Yasuo Tomomichi (JPN)Flag of Japan.svg Kieffers Co. Ltd. (JPN)2:25.5¥959,260,000
2025Flag of Ireland.svg  Calandagan  (IRE)4Flag of France.svg  Mickael Barzalona  (FRA)Flag of France.svg  Francis-Henri Graffard  (FRA)Flag of France.svg Aga Khan Studs SCEA (FRA)2:20.3¥960,400,000

1 With Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Wayne Gretzky  (CAN) as a minority stake holder. [45]
2 The 2002 race took place at Nakayama Racecourse over a distance of 2,200 metres.
3 Rose Kingdom finished second to Buena Vista but was promoted as a result of a disqualification.

Winners by nationality

Horse

NationFoaledTrainedOwned
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)111
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)021
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)112
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GB)243
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRE)511
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)011
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)283030
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)111
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates  (UAE)001
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)744

Jockey

NationNo.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)2
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)1
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)1
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)8
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GB)3
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRE)3
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)4
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)18
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)1
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (SAF)1
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)3

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Screenshot is from the Sky Racing documentary, Global Impact: The Rise Of The Japanese Thoroughbred. [15]
  2. ↑ A common horseracing measure in race results that represents the average length of a horse, around 8 ft (2.4 m).
  3. ↑ An international grading standard regulated by the IFHA that denotes a race as having major international importance and where the partaking racers are expected to be of a very high standard. [24]
  4. ↑ Amongst other years; 1989, [41] 1990, [151] 1994, [152] 2004, [69] 2011, [82] 2021. [153]

References

Full race results

References

  1. ↑ Marquardt, Lucas (2014-03-12). "Japan Cup Recap". Thoroughbred Daily News. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  2. 1 2 "The 43rd Running of The Japan Cup in association with LONGINES, Press Information" (PDF) (Press release). The Japan Racing Association. November 2023. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-07-25.
  3. ↑ "The Philosophy for JRA Track" (PDF) (Press release). Japan Racing Association. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-08-14. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  4. 1 2 "Tokyo Course Details". Horse Racing in Japan. Archived from the original on 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  5. 1 2 "Japan Cup 2025". Horse Racing in Japan. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  6. 1 2 今週の注目レース:ジャパンカップ（G1） [This week's featured race: The Japan Cup (G1)]. Japan Racing Association (in Japanese). 2024-11-24. Archived from the original on 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
  7. ↑ 【360° interactive video】Tokyo Racecourse Turf 2400meters (Interactive video). Japan Racing Association. 2021-11-21. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07.
  8. ↑ "Japan Cup (G1) - Data Analysis". Horse Racing In Japan. 2024-11-18. Archived from the original on 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  9. ↑ Webber, Adrian (2023-11-24). "Domestic horses look to continue home dominance". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  10. ↑ Tazawa, Satoshi (2021-01-08). 「アーモンドアイの出現が必然となるまでの1981-2020日本競馬史」（上） ["The History of Japanese Horse Racing from 1981 to 2020: The Inevitable Appearance of Almond Eye" (Part 1)] (in Japanese). nippon. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  11. ↑ Helm, Leslie (1992-06-16). "Market Focus : Japan Keeps Eye on Horse Racing Prize : With big money at stake, a very tight rein is held on foreign-born horses. U.S. breeders want that changed". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  12. ↑ 今週の注目レース（レースについて：ジャパンカップ） [This week's featured races (Race information: Japan Cup)]. Japan Racing Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  13. ↑ 優駿[Yushun] (in Japanese). Vol. Nov. 1970. Chūō Keiba PR Center. p. 49.
  14. ↑ Buckley, Roger (2010). "'Competitors with the English sporting men'. Civilization, Enlightenment and Horse Racing: Anglo-Japanese Relations, 1860–2010". In Cortazzi, Hugh (ed.). Britain and Japan: Biographical Portraits. Vol. VII. Global Oriental. p. 561. ISBN   978-1-906876-26-5.
  15. 1 2 Donegan, Peter (narrator); Glanville, Jon (writer); Court, John (editor) (2017-04-28). Global Impact: The Rise Of The Japanese Thoroughbred (documentary). Sky Racing.
  16. 1 2 3 歴史・沿革 [History of Tokyo Racecourse]. 一般社団法人 東京馬主協会[Tokyo Horse Owners Association] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  17. ↑ 競走成績 - 第84回 天皇賞 [Race Results - The 84th Tennō Shō]. Japan Racing Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  18. 1 2 "1st Running of the Japan Cup, November, 22 1981" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  19. ↑ Yamamoto, Tomoyuki (2018-11-25). 韓国馬が地元G1で日本馬にボロ負けする理由 [Why Korean horses lose to Japanese horses in local G1s]. 東洋経済オンライン[Toyo Keizai Weekly] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  20. ↑ 【ジャパンC】第1回は日本のトップホースらがGI未勝利馬の外国馬に完敗 武豊騎手「衝撃を受けた。外国馬が強かったので」 [[Japan Cup] In the first race, top Japanese horses were completely defeated by foreign horses that had not yet won a GI race. Jockey Yutaka Take said, "I was shocked. The foreign horses were so strong."]. ライブドアニュース (in Japanese). Livedoor. 2024-11-22. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  21. ↑ Motomura, Ryōji (2016). 競馬の世界史:サラブレッド誕生から21世紀の凱旋門賞まで[World history of horse racing: From the birth of the thoroughbred to the 21st century Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe] (in Japanese). Chuokoron-Shinsha. ISBN   978-4-12-102391-9. 「あのレースを観戦したものは、日本馬がジャパンカップを勝つまであと20年はかかる、21世紀の出来事だろうと心底ため息がもれたはずだ[Those who watched that race must have sighed in deep regret, thinking that it would be another 20 years before a Japanese horse won the Japan Cup, something that would happen in the 21st century."] quoted in 第3章: ジャパンカップ、その多難な船 [Chapter 3: The Japan Cup's rocky start]. netkaiba (in Japanese). 2017-12-20. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  22. ↑ "Japan Cup Date". Liverpool Daily Post . 1982-11-10. p. 21. Half Iced is the 11th and final foreign entry to be announced for the 580,000 dollar race against entries from France, Canada, West Germany, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand and Japan.
  23. ↑ "2nd Running of the Japan Cup, November 28 1982" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  24. ↑ "An Introduction: The History of the Pattern". International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. 2023-12-31. Archived from the original on 2025-02-01. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  25. ↑ "3rd Running of the Japan Cup, November, 27 1983" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  26. ↑ David, Roy (1984-10-04). "Les girls give the boys a run for their money". Liverpool Daily Post. p. 27.
  27. ↑ "The Thoroughbred Connection: Ireland & Japan's Racing Legacy". Ireland.ie. Government of Ireland. 2025-09-16. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  28. ↑ "Horse Racing in Japan 2020" (PDF). Together for Racing International (Press release). Japan Racing Association. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  29. ↑ カツラギエース [Katsuragi Ace]. Japan Racing Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  30. ↑ "4th Running of the Japan Cup, November, 25 1984" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  31. ↑ "Katsuragi Ace, a 40-to-1 shot, surged past favorites from..." United Press International. 1984-11-26. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  32. ↑ "5th Running of the Japan Cup, November, 24 1985" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  33. ↑ "6th Running of the Japan Cup, November 23 1986" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  34. ↑ Hillier, Keith (24 November 1986). "Starkey angry at Japan Cup defeat". Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  35. 1 2 Timeform Staff (1987). "Jupiter Island". In Newton, J. D. (ed.). Racehorses of 1986. Portway Press Ltd. pp. 433–435. ISBN   978-0-900599-44-6.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "The 45th Running of the Japan Cup in association with Longines" (PDF) (Press release). Japan Racing Association. pp. 80–88. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-11-28. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  37. ↑ "7th Running of the Japan Cup, November, 29 1987" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  38. 1 2 "8th Running of the Japan Cup, November, 27 1988" (PDF). Horse Racing in Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  39. ↑ Christine, Bill (1988-12-03). "Weekend Racing at Hollywood Park : McCarron Has an Edge for Eclipse". Los Angeles Times. p. 20. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-30. This weekend, for example, McCarron is riding only 1 day at Hollywood Park, having remained in Tokyo after his upset win aboard Pay the Butler in last Sunday's $2-million Japan Cup.
  40. ↑ McCarron, Chris (1988-11-28). "Pay the Butler did it in Tokyo". Toronto Star. p. 10. ProQuest   435802554.
  41. 1 2 "Horse Racing Roundup : Horlicks Breaks Hawkster Mark in Japan". Los Angeles Times . 27 November 1989. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  42. ↑ "Japan Cup, Sunday, Nov 26,1989, 5th TOKYO 8-day". JBIS Search. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  43. ↑ "Horlicks gallops into history". The Canberra Times. 1989-11-28. p. 25. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  44. ↑ Bishop, Brad (2015-11-25). "25 years on, Better still one of the best". RACING.COM. Archived from the original on 2025-10-30. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  45. 1 2 Hovdey, Jay (2023-11-24). "Golden Pheasant: 'Entering the Japan Cup walking ring was like walking into a football stadium'". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  46. ↑ Ishida, Toshinori (2023-11-05). 「世界中のトップホースが集結」トウカイテイオーが"歴史"を変えた史上最強のジャパンカップ前夜...元番記者が振り返る31年前の記憶（石田敏徳） ["Top horses gathered from around the world." Tokai Teio changed history on the eve of the strongest Japan Cup ever... A former reporter looks back on memories from 31 years ago] (in Japanese). Sports Graphic Number. Archived from the original on 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  47. ↑ "Legacy World wins Japan Cup". United Press International. 1993-11-28. Archived from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  48. ↑ "Marvelous Crown Wins the Japan Cup, Beating Paradise Creek Before 165,930". Los Angeles Times. 1994-11-28. Archived from the original on 2025-11-14. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  49. 1 2 "Jockey's error costly in Japan Cup". The Joblin Globe. Associated Press. 1993-11-29. p. 9.
  50. ↑ "Jockey fined as Japan keeps Cup". Liverpool Daily Post. 1993-11-29. p. 27.
  51. ↑ Taylor, Matt (1995-11-25). "Japan Cup favours tradition". The Canberra Times. p. 59. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-28. Bookmakers have Japanese galloper Hishi Amazon favourite to take out the SA5 million weight-for-age Japan Cup (2400m) in Tokyo tomorrow despite drawing wide.
  52. ↑ "Lando lands Japan Cup". Shropshire Star . 1995-11-27. p. 34.
  53. ↑ "A Son Of Africa". Sporting Post. 2021-01-18. Archived from the original on 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2025-10-27. That was the sight of 200 000 people cheering when I turned to canter back after winning the Japan Cup on Lando in 1995. What a memory!
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