The is a Japanese Grade 1 flat race for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 3,000 metres (approximately 1 mile 7 furlongs) at the Kyoto Racecourse, Fushimi, Kyoto, in late October.
History
The Kikuka Shō was first contested in 1938 as over a distance of 3,000 metres at Kyoto Racecourse, and renamed to current name in 1948. It is the Japanese equivalent of the English St. Leger Stakes.
The race was run at Kyoto since 1938, except 1979, 2021 and 2022 at Hanshin Racecourse.
It is the final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, preceded by the Satsuki Shō (the Japanese equivalent of the English 2,000 Guineas) in mid-to-late April and the Tōkyō Yūshun (the Japanese equivalent of the English Epsom Derby) in late May or early June.
Trial races
Trial races provide automatic berths to the winning horses or placed horses as specified.
+ Race Name Class Racecourse Distance Condition St. Lite Kinen GII Nakayama 2,200 meters Top 3 horses Kobe Shimbun Hai GII Hanshin 2,400 meters
There are only two trial races for the Kikuka Sho. The top three finishers in the St. Lite Kinen and the Kobe Shimbun Hai are guaranteed a priority to enter the race. the other Classic races are only provide priority-entry-rights to the winner. and the runner-ups from the Classics, as well as top two finishers from NHK Mile Cup, are also eligible to participate if they are registered with the National Association of Racing.
Records
Leading jockey(s) : 5 – Yutaka Take : Super Creek (1988), Dance in the Dark (1996), Air Shakur (2000), Deep Impact (2005), World Premiere (2019) The only jockey in history to win the race in three different eras (Shōwa, Heisei and Reiwa). 5 – Christophe Lemaire : Satono Diamond (2016), Fierement (2018), Durezza (2023), Urban Chic (2024), Energico (2025) The only jockey in history to win the race three consecutive times.
Leading trainer(s) : 5 – Tokichi Ogata : Tetsumon (1938), Kurifuji (1943), Hakuryo (1953), Haku Kurama (1959), Great Yoruka (1963)
Leading owner(s) : 3 – Shadai Race Horse : Dance in the Dark (1996), That's the Plenty (2003), Song of Wind (2006) 3 – Sunday Racing : Delta Blues (2004), Orfevre (2011), Fierement (2018)
Fastest winning time : 3:01.0 – Toho Jackal (2014) Slowest winning time : 3:26 4/5 – Azumarai (1946)
Winners since 1984 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1984 3:06.8 1985 3:08.1 1986 3:09.2 1987 3:08.0 1988 3:07.3 1989 3:07.7 1990 3:06.2 1991 3:09.5 1992 3:05.0 1993 3:04.7 1994 3:04.6 1995 3:04.4 1996 3:05.1 1997 3:07.7 1998 3:03.2 1999 3:07.6 2000 3:04.7 2001 3:07.2 2002 3:05.9 2003 3:04.8 2004 3:04.8 2005 3:04.6 2006 3:02.7 2007 3:05.1 2008 3:05.7 2009 3:03.5 2010 3:06.1 2011 3:02.8 2012 3:02.9 2013 3:05.2 2014 3:01.0 2015 3:03.9 2016 3:03.3 2017 3:18.9 2018 3:06.1 2019 3:06.0 2020 3:05.5 2021 3:04.6 2022 3:02.4 2023 3:03.1 2024 3:04.1 2025 3:04.0 The 2021 and 2022 editions were contested at Hanshin Racecourse, due to renovations held at the Kyoto Racecourse.
Earlier winners
1938 - Tetsumon 1939 - Marutake 1940 - Tetsuzakura 1941 - St Lite 1942 - Hayatake 1943 - Kurifuji 1944 - no race 1945 - no race 1946 - Azumarai 1947 - Browny 1948 - Newford 1949 - Tosa Midori 1950 - High Record 1951 - Track O 1952 - Saint O 1953 - Hakuryo 1954 - Dainana Hoshu 1955 - Meiji Hikari 1956 - Kitano O 1957 - Rhapsody 1958 - Koma Hikari 1959 - Hakukurama 1960 - Kitano Oza 1961 - Azuma Tenran 1962 - Hirokimi 1963 - Great Yoruka 1964 - Shinzan 1965 - Dai Koter 1966 - Nasuno Kotobuki 1967 - Knit Eight 1968 - Asaka O 1969 - Akane Tenryu 1970 - Date Tenryu 1971 - Nihon Pollow Moutiers 1972 - Ishino Hikaru 1973 - Take Hope 1974 - Kitano Kachidoki 1975 - Kokusai Prince 1976 - Green Grass 1977 - Press Toko 1978 - Inter Gushiken 1979 - Hashi Hermit 1980 - North Gust 1981 - Minagawa Manna 1982 - Horisky 1983 - Mr. C.B.
See also Horse racing in Japan List of Japanese flat horse races
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