Japanese Classic Races

For other uses, see Classics (disambiguation).

In horse racing in Japan, The Classics are a series of flat horse races. Each classic is run once each year and is restricted to intact horses that are three years old (i.e., excluding geldings). The six races are:

Race	Date	Distance	Course	First Run	Qualification
Oka Sho	April	1,600 meters	Hanshin	1939	Three-year-old fillies
Satsuki Sho	April	2,000 meters	Nakayama	1939	Three-year-olds
Yushun Himba	May	2,400 meters	Tokyo	1938	Three-year-old fillies
Tokyo Yushun	May / June	2,400 meters	Tokyo	1932	Three-year-olds
Kikuka Sho	October	3,000 meters	Kyoto	1938	Three-year-olds
Shuka Sho	October	2,000 meters	Kyoto	1996	Three-year-old fillies

Triple crown for colts

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

St Lite (1941) Shinzan (1964) Mr C B (1983) Symboli Rudolf (1984)

Narita Brian (1994) Deep Impact (2005) Orfevre (2011) Contrail (2020)

St Lite (1941)

Deep Impact (2005)

Orfevre (2011)

Contrail (2020)

Triple crown for fillies

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).

Mejiro Ramonu (1986) Still in Love (2003) Apapane (2010)

Gentildonna (2012) Almond Eye (2018) Daring Tact (2020) Liberty Island (2023)

See also

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