The is a Grade 1 (GI) flat horse race in Japan.
Namesake The race is named after the city of Takarazuka, Hyōgo, the location of Hanshin Racecourse, which is the venue of the race.
Background The Takarazuka Kinen is a Grade I turf Thoroughbred race in Japan open to horses aged three years and older. It is held annually in late June at Hanshin Racecourse over a distance of 2,200 meters on the inner turf course. The race is run under set-weight conditions: 53 kg for 3-year-olds, 58 kg for 4-year-olds and up, with fillies and mares receiving a 2 kg allowance. As with the Arima Kinen, the majority of the runners in the field are selected by a vote from racing fans, while the remainder are determined by the amount of prize money won. The winner receives a massive purse and earns automatic priority entry into international Breeders' Cup Challenge races. History The Takarazuka Kinen was inaugurated on June 26, 1960, at Hanshin Racecourse over 1,800 meters on turf. It was established as a major summer championship to rival the spring and autumn Tenno Sho races. From 1961 to 1965 the race was run over 2,000 metres and since 1966 it has been run over its present distance of 2,200 meters.
The race was introduced as a fan-voted "All-Star" event, a format that remains a defining characteristic of the race today. Due to infrastructure projects and track renovations at Hanshin Racecourse, the venue has occasionally shifted. Notably, the race was held at Kyoto Racecourse in 1966, 1969, 1974, 1991, 1995, 2006, and 2024. In 2005, the race became an international event, allowing foreign-trained horses to compete.
Only 3 horses have won the race more than once, all three won it in two consecutive years: Gold Ship (2013, 2014) Chrono Genesis (2020, 2021) Meisho Tabaru (2025, 2026) Gold Ship and Meisho Tabaru are also the only father-son pair to have won the same race twice in a row.
Past winners YearWinnerAgeLength (in m)JockeyTrainerOwnerTime1960Homare Hiro4T1800Takeo KondoSukehiko TakeSeishichi Niki1:49.61961Caesar4T2000Shuji ItoKatsukichi ItoYoshigoro Ito2:04.61962Kodama5T2000Masaru KuritaBungo TakedaYoshigoro Ito2:03.41963Ryu Forel4T2000Isao MiyamotoMasaharu HashimotoEmiko Miyoshi2:02.11964Hikaru Pola5T2000Shigetada TakahashiIsamu SatoYohinosuke Tsubota2:03.31965Shinzan4T2000Masaru KuritaBungo TakedaKokichi Hashimoto2:06.31966Eight Crown4T2200Shigeharu NaitoYasuzo TaknakaNoboru Yamaguchi2:15.01967Taiyo4T2200Shigeharu NaitoBungo TakedaHiroshi Naito2:19.41968Hikaru Takai4T2200Yuji NohiraTomiyoshi FujimotoYoshitatsu Nagayama2:14.71969Date Horai4T2200Akihiko UdaSenshi HoshikawaDate Bokujo2:16.11970Speed Symboli7T2200Yuji NohiraShozo NohiraTomohiro Wada2:13.31971Mejiro Musashi4T2200Tomio YokoyamaSuekichi OkuboMejiro Farm2:17.31972Shofu Midori6T2200Yoshito MatsumotoBungo TakedaIchisaburo Matsumoto2:19.91973Hamano Parade4T2200Yoshiyasu TajimaMasani SakaguchiHorse Tajima Co. Ltd.2:12.71974Haiseiko4T2200Sueo MasuzawaKatsutaro SuzukiHorseman Club2:12.91975Naoki6T2200Shoji SasakiYasuzo TanakaSakurayama Horse Co., Ltd.2:16.71976Fujino Parthia5T2200Shoichi OsakiHiroshi ShibataShigeji Sanada2:17.51977Tosho Boy4T2200Kunihiko TakeTakayoshi YasudaTosho Sangyo2:13.01978Erimo George6T2200Yoichi FukunagaMasaaki OkuboShinichi Yamamoto2:14.21979Sakura Shori4T2200Futoshi KojimaKatsutaro SakaiSakura Commerce Co., Ltd.2:12.41980Teru Tenryu4T2400Katsuichi NishiuraKenji DomonShigeko Ito2:31.91981Katsu R5T2200Hiroshi HiguchiTsugio YanagidaHideo Kuribayashi2:14.11982Monte Prince5T2200Masato YoshinagaKichisaburo MatsuyamaKihachi Mōri2:12.61983Hagino Kamui O4T2200Kiyoaki ItoShuji ItoHirokichi Hinokuma2:12.11984Katsuragi Ace4T2200Katsuichi NishiuraKazumi DomonIchizo Node2:12.41985Suzuka Koban5T2200Yoshiyuki MuramotoMinoru KobayashiEiichi Nagai2:15.91986Persian Boy4T2200Masato ShibataKunio TakamatsuHidekazu Date2:14.41987Suzu Parade6T2200Seiji EbisawaRokuro TomitaYoshio Koshiki2:12.31988Tamamo Cross4T2200Katsumi MinaiIsami ObaraTamamo Stable2:13.21989Inari One5T2200Yutaka TakeKiyoshi SuzukiHiroki Hotehama2:14.01990Osaichi George4T2200Katsuhide MaruyamaKazumi DomonChoichi Node2:14.01991Mejiro Ryan4T2200Norihiro YokoyamaShinji OkuhiraMejiro Farm2:13.61992Mejiro Palmer5T2200Taisei YamadaMasaaki OkuboMejiro Farm2:18.61993Mejiro McQueen6T2200Yutaka TakeYasuo IkeeMejiro Farm2:17.71994Biwa Hayahide4T2200Yukio OkabeMitsumasa HamadaBiwa Co Ltd2:11.21995Dantsu Seattle5T2200Yoshiyuki MuramotoKenji YamauchiTetsuji Yamamoto2:10.21996Mayano Top Gun4T2200Seiki TabaraMasahiro SakaguchiYuu Tadokoro2:12.01997Marvelous Sunday5T2200Yutaka TakeMakoto OsawaSadao Sasahara2:11.91998Silence Suzuka4T2200Katsumi MinaiMitsuru HashidaKeiji Nagai2:11.91999Grass Wonder4T2200Hitoshi MatobaMitsuhiro OgataY. Hanzawa2:12.12000T M Opera O4T2200Ryuji WadaIchizo IwamotoMasatsugu Takezono2:13.82001Meisho Doto5T2200Yasuhiko YasudaIsao YasudaYoshio Matsumoto2:11.72002Dantsu Flame4T2200Shinji FujitaKenji YamauchiTetsuji Yamamoto2:12.92003Hishi Miracle4T2200Koichi TsunodaMasaru SayamaMasaichiro Abe2:12.02004Tap Dance City7T2200Tetsuzo SatoShozo SasakiYushun Horse Club2:11.12005Sweep Tosho4T2200Kenichi IkezoeAkio TsurudomeTosho Sangyo2:11.52006Deep Impact4T2200Yutaka TakeYasuo IkeeKaneko Makoto Holdings2:13.02007Admire Moon4T2200Yasunari IwataHiroyoshi MatsudaRiichi Kondo2:12.42008Eishin Deputy6T2200Hiroyuki UchidaAkira NomotoToyomitsu Hirai2:15.32009Dream Journey5T2200Kenichi IkezoeYasutoshi IkeeSunday Racing2:11.32010Nakayama Festa4T2200Yoshitomi ShibataYoshitaka NinomiyaShinichi Izumi2:13.02011Earnestly6T2200Tetsuzo SatoShozo SasakiKoji Maeda2:10.12012Orfevre4T2200Kenichi IkezoeYasutoshi IkeeSunday Racing2:10.92013Gold Ship4T2200Hiroyuki UchidaNaosuke SugaiEiichi Kobayashi2:13.22014Gold Ship5T2200Norihiro YokoyamaNaosuke SugaiEiichi Kobayashi2:13.92015Lovely Day5T2200Yuga KawadaYasutoshi IkeeKaneko Makoto Holdings2:14.42016Marialite5T2200Masayoshi EbinaTakashi KubotaU.Carrot Farm2:12.82017Satono Crown5T2200Mirco DemuroNoriyuki HoriHajime Satomi2:11.42018Mikki Rocket5T2200Ryuji WadaHidetaka OtonashiMizuki Noda2:11.62019Lys Gracieux5T2200Damian LaneYoshito YahagiU Carrot Farm2:10.82020Chrono Genesis4T2200Yuichi KitamuraTakashi SaitoSunday Racing2:13.52021Chrono Genesis5T2200Christophe LemaireTakashi SaitoSunday Racing2:10.92022Titleholder4T2200Kazuo YokoyamaToru KuritaHiroshi Yamada2:09.72023Equinox4T2200Christophe LemaireTetsuya KimuraSilk Racing Co., Ltd.2:11.22024Blow the Horn5T2200Akira SugawaraTatsuya YoshiokaMakio Okada2:12.02025Meisho Tabaru4T2200Yutaka TakeMamoru IshibashiYoshio Matsumoto2:11.12026Meisho Tabaru5T2200Yutaka TakeMamoru IshibashiYoshitaka Matsumoto2:12.1
Vote leaders since 2004 YearLeaderAgeVotes ReceivedRace Result2004Lincoln460,8653rd2005Zenno Rob Roy567,6673rd2006Deep Impact489,864Winner2007Meisho Samson476,9322nd2008Vodka475,594Not in race2009Vodka5139,507Not in race2010Buena Vista492,0242nd2011Buena Vista597,4292nd2012Orfevre472,253Winner2013Orfevre570,519Not in race2014Gold Ship551,366Winner2015Gold Ship666,12315th2016Kitasan Black482,1213rd2017Kitasan Black5101,6219th2018Satono Diamond563,5996th2019Almond Eye478,778Not in race2020Almond Eye5111,842Not in race2021Chrono Genesis5137,448Winner2022Titleholder4191,394Winner2023Equinox4216,379Winner2024Do Deuce5238,3676th2025Bellagio Opera5228,9502nd2026Croix du Nord4366,0392nd
See also Horse racing in Japan List of Japanese flat horse races
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External links Horse Racing in Japan