Japanese Classic Races

For other uses, see Classics (disambiguation).

In horse racing in Japan, The Classics are a series of flat horse races. All of these races are organized by Japan Racing Association. ^[1] Each classic is run once each year and is restricted to intact horses that are three years old (i.e., excluding geldings). Only the first five races are considered as classic whilst Shuka Sho were inaugurated in 1996 to replace Queen Elizabeth II Cup as the third leg of triple tiara. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Race	Date	Distance	Course	First Run	Qualification
Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas)	April	1,600 meters	Hanshin	1939	Three-year-old colts/fillies
Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas)		2,000 meters	Nakayama	1939
Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks)	May/June	2,400 meters	Tokyo	1938
Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)		2,400 meters		1932
Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger)	October	3,000 meters	Kyoto	1938
Shūka Sho		2,000 meters		1996

Triple crown for colts

Japanese colts who have obtained the Triple Crown title by winning the Satsuki Sho, Japan Derby and Kikuka Sho. ^[5]

List of Japanese Triple Crown winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Breeder
1941	St Lite	Kizo Konishi	Waichiro Tanaka	Yusaku Kato	Koiwai Farm
1964	Shinzan	Masaru Kurita	Bungo Takeda	Kokichi Hashimoto	Yoshimatsu Matsuhashi
1983	Mr. C.B.	Masato Yoshinaga	Yasuhisa Matsuyama	Chigira Bokujo	Chigira Bokujo
1984	Symboli Rudolf	Yukio Okabe	Yuji Nohira	Symboli Stud	Symboli Stud
1994	Narita Brian	Katsumi Minai	Masaaki Okubo	Hidenori Yamaji	Hayata Bokujo
2005	Deep Impact	Yutaka Take	Yasuo Ikee	Makoto Kaneko	Northern Farm
2011	Orfevre	Kenichi Ikezoe	Yasutoshi Ikee	Sunday Racing	Shadai Corporation Shiraoi Farm
2020	Contrail	Yuichi Fukunaga	Yoshito Yahagi	Shinji Maeda	North Hills

St Lite (1941)

Deep Impact (2005)

Orfevre (2011)

Contrail (2020)

Individual Race Winner

Key for full list of race winners

†	Denotes winners of the Japanese Triple Crown
*	Denotes winners of the Satsuki Sho and the Tokyo Yushun but not the Kikuka Sho
#	Denotes other winners of any other combination of 2 out of the 3 Japanese Triple Crown races

Japanese Triple Crown†
Year	Satsuki Sho [6] [7]	Tokyo Yushun [8] [9]	Kikuka Sho [10] [11]
1932		Wakataka
1933		Kabutoyama
1934		Flame Mor
1935		Governor
1936		Tokumasa
1937		Hisatomo♥
1938		Sugenuma	Tetsumon
1939	Rock Park	Kumohata	Marutake
1940	World Mine	Ieryu	Tetsuzakura
1941	† St Lite
1942	Arbeit	Minami Homare	Hayatake
1943	Dielec	# Kurifuji ♥
1944	Kuri Yamato	Kaiso	no race
1945	no race
1946	no race		Azumarai
1947	Tokitsukaze♥	Matsu Midori	Browny♥
1948	Hide Hikari♥	Miharu O	Newford
1949	# Tosa Midori	Tachikaze	# Tosa Midori
1950	* Kumono Hana		High Record
1951	* Tokino Minoru		Track O
1952	* Kurino Hana		Saint O
1953	* Bostonian		Hakuryo
1954	# Dainana Hoshu	Golden Wave	# Dainana Hoshu
1955	Kegon	Otokitsu	Meiji Hikari
1956	Hekiraku	Hakuchikara	Kitano O
1957	Kazuyoshi	Hikaru Meiji	Rhapsody
1958	Taisei Hope	Daigo Homare	Koma Hikari
1959	Wildeal	Komatsu Hikari	Hakukurama
1960	* Kodama		Kitano Oza
1961	Shin Tsubame	Hakusho	Azuma Tenran
1962	Yamano O	Fair Win	Hirokimi
1963	* Meizui		Great Yoruka
1964	† Shinzan
1965	Chitose O	Keystone	Dai Koter
1966	Nihon Pillow Ace	Teito O	Nasuno Kotobuki
1967	Ryuzuki	Asa Denko	Knit Eight
1968	Martis	Tanino Harromore	Asaka O
1969	Wild More	Daishin Volgard	Akane Tenryu
1970	* Tanino Moutiers		Date Tenryu
1971	* Hikaru Imai		Nihon Pillow Moutiers
1972	Land Prince	Long Ace	Ishino Hikaru
1973	Haiseiko	# Take Hope
1974	# Kitano Kachidoki	Colonel Lancer	# Kitano Kachidoki
1975	* Kaburaya O		Kokusai Prince
1976	Tosho Boy	Climb Kaiser	Green Grass
1977	Hard Berge	Lucky Ruler	Press Toko
1978	Fantast	Sakura Shouri	Inter Gushiken
1979	Bingo Garoo	Katsurano Haiseiko	Hashi Hermit
1980	Hawaiian Image	Opec Horse	North Gust
1981	* Katsu Top Ace		Minagawa Manna
1982	Azuma Hunter	Bamboo Atlas	Horisky
1983	† Mr. C.B.
1984	† Symboli Rudolf
1985	# Miho Shinzan	Sirius Symboli	# Miho Shinzan
1986	Dyna Cosmos	Dyna Gulliver	Mejiro Durren
1987	# Sakura Star O	Merry Nice	# Sakura Star O
1988	Yaeno Muteki	Sakura Chiyono O	Super Creek
1989	Doctor Spurt	Winner's Circle	Bamboo Begin
1990	Haku Taisei	Ines Fujin	Mejiro McQueen
1991	* Tokai Teio		Leo Durban
1992	* Mihono Bourbon		Rice Shower
1993	Narita Taishin	Winning Ticket	Biwa Hayahide
1994	† Narita Brian
1995	Genuine	Tayasu Tsuyoshi	Mayano Top Gun
1996	Ishino Sunday	Fusaichi Concorde	Dance in the Dark
1997	* Sunny Brian		Matikanefukukitaru
1998	# Seiun Sky	Special Week	# Seiun Sky
1999	T M Opera O	Admire Vega	Narita Top Road
2000	# Air Shakur	Agnes Flight	# Air Shakur
2001	Agnes Tachyon	Jungle Pocket	Manhattan Cafe
2002	No Reason	Tanino Gimlet	Hishi Miracle
2003	* Neo Universe		That's the Plenty
2004	Daiwa Major	King Kamehameha	Delta Blues
2005	† Deep Impact
2006	* Meisho Samson		Song of Wind
2007	Victory	Vodka ♥	Asakusa Kings
2008	Captain Thule	Deep Sky	Oken Bruce Lee
2009	Unrivaled	Logi Universe	Three Rolls
2010	Victoire Pisa	Eishin Flash	Big Week
2011	† Orfevre
2012	# Gold Ship	Deep Brillante	# Gold Ship
2013	Logotype	Kizuna	Epiphaneia
2014	Isla Bonita	One and Only	Toho Jackal
2015	* Duramente		Kitasan Black
2016	Dee Majesty	Makahiki	Satono Diamond
2017	Al Ain	Rey de Oro	Kiseki
2018	Epoca d'Oro	Wagnerian	Fierement
2019	Saturnalia	Roger Barows	World Premiere
2020	† Contrail
2021	Efforia	Shahryar	Titleholder
2022	Geoglyph	Do Deuce	Ask Victor More
2023	Sol Oriens	Tastiera	Durezza
2024	Justin Milano	Danon Decile	Urban Chic
2025	Museum Mile	Croix du Nord	Energico

Notes

• ^♥ indicates filly

Triple crown for fillies (Triple Tiara)

Japanese fillies who have won the Triple Crown title by winning the Oka Sho, Japan Oaks and one of the following: Shuka Sho (1996 onwards), or the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (formerly the Victoria Cup, from 1970 to 1975; not a Classics race, but was counted as the third leg of the Triple Tiara before 1996). ^[12] Before the establishment of these crowns in 1970, the third leg of the triple tiara used to be Kikuka Sho which is the basis for the original triple tiara in England (1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes) as the final race is open for both colts and fillies. Kurifuji gained an uncommon status as both "double crown" and "double tiara" horse as she won Tokyo Yushun, Yushun Himba and Kikuka Sho back in 1943. ^[13]

List of Japanese Triple Tiara winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Breeder
1986	Mejiro Ramonu	Hiroshi Kawachi	Shinji Okuhira	Mejiro Bokujo	Mejiro Bokujo
2003	Still in Love	Hideaki Miyuki	Shoichi Matsumoto	North Hills	Shimokobe Farm
2010	Apapane	Masayoshi Ebina	Sakae Kunieda	Makoto Kaneko	Northern Farm
2012	Gentildonna	Yasunari Iwata/Yuga Kawada	Sei Ishizaka	Sunday Racing	Northern Farm
2018	Almond Eye	Christophe Lemaire	Sakae Kunieda	Silk Racing	Northern Farm
2020	Daring Tact	Kohei Matsuyama	Haruki Sugiyama	Normandy Thoroughbred Racing	Hasegawa Bokujo
2023	Liberty Island	Yuga Kawada	Mitsumasa Nakauchida	Sunday Racing	Northern Farm

Individual Race Winner

Key for full list of race winners

†	Denotes winners of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown
*	Denotes winners of the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba but not Victoria Cup/Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1970-1995) or Shuka Sho (1996-present)
#	Denotes other winners of any other combination of 2 out of the 3 Japanese Filly Triple Crown races

Japanese Filly Triple Crown†
Year	Oka Sho	Yushun Himba	Victoria Cup/Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1970-1995) Shuka Sho (1996-present)
1938		Asteri Mor
1939	Soul Lady	Hoshi Homare
1940	Tairei	Rounella
1941	Brand Sol	Tetsu Banzai
1942	Banner Goal	Rock States
1943	Miss Theft	Kurifuji
1944	Yamaiwai	no race
1945	no race
1946	no race	Mitsumasa
1947	Browny	Tokitsukaze
1948	Hamakaze	Yashima Hime
1949	Yashima Daughter	King Night
1950	Tosa Mitsuru	Koma Minoru
1951	Tsuki Kawa	Kiyo Fuji
1952	* Swee Sue
1953	Kansei	Jitsu Homare
1954	* Yamaichi
1955	Yashima Belle	Hiroichi
1956	Miss Lilas	Fair Manna
1957	* Miss Onward
1958	Hoshu Queen	Miss Marusa
1959	Kiyo Take	Okan
1960	Tokino Kiroku	Star Roch
1961	Sugi Hime	Chitose Hope
1962	Kenho	O Hayabusa
1963	Miss Masako	I.T.O.
1964	* Kane Keyaki
1965	Hatsuyuki	Verona
1966	Wakakumo	Hiro Yoshi
1967	Sea Ace	Yama Pit
1968	Koyu	Lupinus
1969	Hide Kotobuki	Shadai Tarquin
1970	Tamami	Jupique	Kuni no Hana
1971	Nasuno Kaori	Kane Himuro	Sun Kotobuki
1972	# Achieve Star	Take Fubuki	# Achieve Star
1973	# Nitto Chodori	Nasuno Chigusa	# Nitto Chodori
1974	Takaeno Kaori	# Toko Elsa
1975	* Tesco Gaby		Hidaroman
1976	* Titania		Diamante
1977	# Inter Gloria	Linear Queen	# Inter Gloria
1978	Oyama Tesco	Five Hope	Lead Swallow
1979	Horsemen Tesco	Agnes Lady	Miss Kaburaya
1980	# Hagino Top Lady	Kei Kiroku	# Hagino Top Lady
1981	Brocade	Temmon	Agnes Tesco
1982	Riesengross	Shadai Ivor	Victoria Crown
1983	Shadai Sophia	Dyna Carle	Long Grace
1984	Diana Tholon	Tokai Roman	Kyowa Thunder
1985	Erebus	Noah no Hakobune	Reward Wing
1986	† Mejiro Ramonu
1987	* Max Beauty		Talented Girl
1988	Ara Hotoku	Cosmo Dream	Miyama Poppy
1989	Shadai Kagura	Light Color	Sand Peeress
1990	Agnes Flora	Eishin Sunny	Kyoei Tap
1991	Sister Tosho	Isono Roubles	Rinden Lilly
1992	Nishino Flower	Adorable	Takeno Velvet
1993	* Vega		Hokuto Vega
1994	Oguri Roman	Chokai Carol	Hishi Amazon
1995	Wonder Perfume	Dance Partner	Sakura Candle
1996	Fight Gulliver	Air Groove	Fabulous la Fouine
1997	Kyoei March	# Mejiro Dober
1998	# Phalaenopsis	Erimo Excel	# Phalaenopsis
1999	Primo Ordine	Umeno Fiber	Buzen Candle
2000	Cheers Grace	Silk Prima Donna	Tico Tico Tac
2001	# T M Ocean	Lady Pastel	# T M Ocean
2002	Arrow Carry	Smile Tomorrow	Fine Motion
2003	† Still in Love
2004	Dance in the Mood	Daiwa El Cielo	Sweep Tosho
2005	Rhein Kraft	Cesario	Air Messiah
2006	Kiss to Heaven	# Kawakami Princess
2007	# Daiwa Scarlet	Robe Decollette	# Daiwa Scarlet
2008	Reginetta	Tall Poppy	Black Emblem
2009	* Buena Vista		Red Desire
2010 [14]	† Apapane	†Apapane (DH)	†Apapane
Saint Emillion (DH)
2011	Marcellina	Erin Court	Aventura
2012	† Gentildonna
2013	Ayusan	# Meisho Mambo
2014	Harp Star	Nuovo Record	Shonan Pandora
2015	Let's Go Donki	# Mikki Queen
2016	Jeweler	Sinhalite	Vivlos
2017	Reine Minoru	Soul Stirring	Deirdre
2018	† Almond Eye
2019	Gran Alegria	Loves Only You	Chrono Genesis
2020	† Daring Tact
2021	Sodashi	Uberleben	Akaitorino Musume
2022	* Stars on Earth		Stunning Rose
2023	† Liberty Island
2024	Stellenbosch	# Cervinia
2025	# Embroidery	Kamunyak	# Embroidery

See also

• British Classic Races
• American Classic Races
• French Classic Races

References

1. "Triple Crown Horse Story: Past Triple Crown Horses". warp.ndl.go.jp (in Japanese). 17 October 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
2. "Japanese Triple Crown". races.com.au. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
3. Morgan, David (9 May 2025). "Liberty Island: Confident And Brilliant, A Heroine Adored". Idol Horse. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
4. Miyoshi, Haruyuki (18 October 2015). "RESULT OF THE 20TH SHUKA SHO (G1)" (PDF). jra.jp. Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
5. "Japanese Triple Crown: List of Japanese Triple Crown Winners. Orfevre becomes 8th winner of Triple Crown | Horse Racing Library". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
6. "Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) - Past Winners". ahonoora.com. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
7. "SATSUKI SHO Past Winners: List of Previous Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1) Winners | Horse Racing Library". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 21 April 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
8. "Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby) Winners". www.tbheritage.com. Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
9. "TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY) Past Winners: List of Previous Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) Winners | Horse Racing Library". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
10. "歴史・コース:菊花賞 今週の注目レース" [History & Course: Kikuka-sho This Week's Featured Race]. jra.jp (in Japanese). Japan Racing Association. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
11. "KIKUKA SHO Past Winners: List of Previous Kikuka Sho (Japanese St.leger) (G1) Winners | Horse Racing Library". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
12. "Japanese Triple Tiara: List of Japanese Triple Tiara Winners. Liberty Island becomes 7th winner of Triple Tiara | Horse Racing Library". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
13. "クリフジ | 馬・牧場・施設検索 | 競走馬のふるさと案内所" [Kurifuji | Horse, Ranch & Facility Search | Thoroughbred Horse Heritage Centre]. uma-furusato.com. JBBA. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
14. Apapane, Saint Emilion take Yushun Himba in deadheat