The Horse Racing Hall of Fame () is a Japanese horse racing memorial hall which was installed on September 2, 1985 at the JRA Horse Racing Museum, Fuchu, Tokyo. It was founded by Japan Racing Association to honor the achievements of race horses, jockeys and trainers.
Race horses inducted into the Hall of Fame are called Kensho-ba (顕彰馬) while jockeys and trainer are called Kensho-sha (顕彰者) by the Japan Racing Association.
Race horse nomination
The selection of a race horse for the Hall of Fame is decided annually by a vote in June. It is voted on by members of the press. Racehorses are inducted into the Hall of Fame if they gather over three-quarters of the total vote.
Selection process
The current selection method involves a vote by members of the media and newspaper industry who have been involved in horse racing coverage for over 10 years. Each voter can nominate up to four horses (a "bullet voting" system is used, and "No applicable horse" is also an option). A horse is selected if it receives votes from at least three-quarters (75%) of the total voters. This system has been in place since 2015.
To be eligible, a horse must have been retired from racing (deregistered) for at least one year as of the cutoff date of March 31, but no more than 20 years. Active horses, those retired for less than a year, and those retired for more than 20 years are ineligible.
1984 – 1999
During this period, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee determined inductees based on the following criteria (requiring three-quarters approval from committee members): Exceptional Racing Record: Generally, horses that won three or more GI-rated heavy stakes races.
-Excellent Racing and Breeding Record: Horses with records similar to the above whose offspring performed exceptionally well (specifically, a sire with five or more GI-winning offspring, or a mare with two or more). -Special Contribution to Central Horse Racing (JRA): Horses that contributed significantly to the development of JRA through international success, record-breaking achievements, popularity, or public impact.
The last horse selected under this system was Taiki Shuttle in 1999. In 1990, a re-evaluation of past horses was conducted, leading to the induction of Ten Point, Kodama, Speed Symboli, and Meiji Hikari. This was largely due to persistent criticism from fans and media regarding the omission of Ten Point (the rival of Tosho Boy, who was inducted at the start), as well as changes in the status of horses due to the success of their offspring.
Notably, horses like Dainana Hoshu, Take Hope, Green Grass, and Fujino O met the criteria but were not inducted. Dainana Hoshu, in particular, was a legendary runner of his era with 23 wins in 29 starts, including three of the "Eight Major Races." Despite being a lock for induction in 1984, he was reportedly blocked by a single committee member who argued that the horse's small stature lacked the "dignity" required of a Thoroughbred.
2001 – 2003
In 2001, the system shifted to the current media-based voting format. However, because there was no limit on the number of years since retirement, votes were split between veteran reporters favoring older legends like Takeshiba O and younger reporters pushing for recent stars like El Condor Pasa and Special Week.
In 2003, T.M. Opera O—despite a record-breaking career including a sweep of the Autumn Triple Crown and a world-record prize money total—failed to reach the 75% threshold. This caused a massive backlash, with fans flooding the JRA website with protests.
2004 – 2014
Following the T.M. Opera O controversy, the JRA revised the rules. They noted that as time passes, fewer people remember a horse's live performances and their evaluation as breeding stock becomes fixed. Consequently, eligibility was restricted to horses retired within the last 20 years. Under this method, T.M. Opera O (2004), Deep Impact (2008), and Vodka (2011) were selected.
2015 – Present
Starting in 2015, the number of horses a voter could nominate was increased from two to four. According to the JRA, this change aimed to ensure that worthy horses were selected even as votes became fragmented due to the diversification of racing categories (sprints, dirt, etc.).
Since 2015, the following horses have been inducted: Orfevre (2015), Gentildonna (2016), Lord Kanaloa (2018), Kitasan Black (2020), Almond Eye (2023), and both Contrail, King Kamehameha (2024), Equinox (2025) and Oju Chosan (2026).
In the 2024 vote, eligibility rules were tightened, resulting in many "Associate Members" (former reporters and announcers no longer on the front lines) losing their voting rights. This led to the successful induction of Contrail (86.4%), who had missed by a single vote the previous year, and King Kamehameha (81.3%), who was entering his penultimate year of eligibility. This marked the first time multiple horses were selected in a single year under the 2015 rules.
Special exceptions Special selection methods were implemented for JRA's 50th (2004) and 60th (2014) anniversaries: 2004: To account for the new "20-year rule," a special vote was held for horses retired before 1983. Takeshiba O was selected through this one-time process.
2014: Voters were allowed to nominate up to four horses as a one-time measure, leading to the induction of El Condor Pasa. Despite consistently leading the polls for years, he had previously failed to reach the 75% threshold until this rule change.
Hall of Fame Below data is based on data available on the JRA website. Horse Foaled Inducted Major Win(s) Award and Achievement(s) ConnectionsB. H.20112026 40 starts 20 wins: Nakayama Grand Jump (2016-2020, 2022) Nakayama Daishogai (2016, 2017, 2021) Tokyo High Jump (2016, 2017) Hanshin Spring Jump (2017, 2019, 2020) Tokyo Jump Stakes (2016) JRA Award for Best Steeplechase Horse (2016-2018, 2021, 2022)Breeder:Owner:Trainer: Br. H.2019 2025 10 starts 8 wins: Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (2021) Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2022, 2023) Arima Kinen (2022) Dubai Sheema Classic (2023) Takarazuka Kinen (2023) Japan Cup (2023) Japanese Horse of the Year (2022, 2023) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (2022) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2023) Longines World's Best Racehorse (2023) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: Br. H.2017 2024 11 starts 8 wins: Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (2019) Hopeful Stakes (2019) Satsuki Sho (2020) Tokyo Yushun (2020) Kobe Shimbun Hai (2020) Kikuka Sho (2020) Japan Cup (2021) 8th Japanese Triple Crown Champion (2020) JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt (2019) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (2020) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2021) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. H.2001 2024 8 starts 7 wins: Mainichi Hai (2004) NHK Mile Cup (2004) Tokyo Yushun (2004) Kobe Shimbun Hai (2004) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (2004) Leading sire in Japan (2010, 2011) Leading broodmare sire in Japan (2020–2022) Leading broodmare sire in North America (2020, 2023, 2024) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. M.2015 2023 15 starts 11 wins: Shinzan Kinen (2018) Oka Sho (2018) Yushun Himba (2018) Shuka Sho (2018) Japan Cup (2018, 2020) Dubai Turf (2019) Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2019, 2020) Victoria Mile (2019) 5th Japanese Triple Tiara Champion (2018) Japanese Horse of the Year (2018, 2020) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Filly (2018) JRA Award for Best Older Filly or Mare (2020) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. H.2012 2020 20 starts 12 wins: Spring Stakes (2015) St. Lite Kinen (2015) Kikuka Sho (2015) Tenno Sho (Spring) (2016, 2017) Kyoto Daishoten (2016) Japan Cup (2016) Osaka Hai (2017) Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2017) Arima Kinen (2017) Japanese Horse of the Year (2016, 2017) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2016, 2017) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. H.2008 2018 19 starts 13 wins: Keihan Hai (2011) Silk Road Stakes (2012) Sprinters Stakes (2012, 2013) Hong Kong Sprint (2012, 2013) Hankyu Hai (2013) Takamatsunomiya Kinen (2013) Yasuda Kinen (2013) JRA Award for Best Sprinter or Miler (2012, 2013) Japanese Horse of the Year (2013) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. M.2009 2016 19 starts 10 wins: Shinzan Kinen (2012) Oka Sho (2012) Yushun Himba (2012) Rose Stakes (2012) Shuka Sho (2012) Japan Cup (2012, 2013) Dubai Sheema Classic (2014) Arima Kinen (2014) 4th Japanese Triple Tiara Champion (2012) Japanese Horse of the Year (2012, 2014) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Filly (2012) JRA Award for Best Older Filly or Mare (2013, 2014) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: Ch. H.2008 2015 21 starts 12 wins: Spring Stakes (2011) Satsuki Sho (2011) Tokyo Yushun (2011) Kobe Shimbun Hai (2011) Kikuka Sho (2011) Arima Kinen (2011, 2013) Takarazuka Kinen (2012) Prix Foy (2012, 2013) Sankei Osaka Hai (2013) 7th Japanese Triple Crown Champion (2011) Japanese Horse of the Year (2011) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (2011) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2012, 2013) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: Dk.B. H.1995 2014 11 starts 8 wins: New Zealand Trophy (1998) NHK Mile Cup (1998) Japan Cup (1998) Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1999) Prix Foy (1999) JRA Award for Best Four-Year-Old Colt (1998) Japanese Horse of the Year (1999) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (1999) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. M.2004 2011 26 starts 10 wins: Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (2006) Tulip Sho (2007) Tokyo Yushun (2007) Yasuda Kinen (2008, 2009) Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2008) Victoria Mile (2009) Japan Cup (2009) JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Filly (2006) JRA Special Award (2007) Japanese Horse of the Year (2008, 2009) JRA Award for Best Older Filly or Mare (2008, 2009) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. H.2002 2008 14 starts 12 wins: Yayoi Sho (2005) Satsuki Sho (2005) Tokyo Yushun (2005) Kobe Shimbun Hai (2005) Kikuka Sho (2005) Hanshin Daishoten (2006) Tenno Sho (Spring) (2006) Takarazuka Kinen(2006) Japan Cup (2006) Arima Kinen (2006) 6th Japanese Triple Crown Champion (2005) Japanese Horse of the Year (2005, 2006) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (2005) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2006) Leading sire in Japan (2012–2022) Leading broodmare sire in Japan (2023–2025) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: Ch. H.1996 2004 26 starts 14 wins: Mainichi Hai (1999) Satsuki Sho (1999) Kyoto Kinen (2000) Hanshin Daishoten (2000) Tenno Sho (Spring) (2000, 2001) Takarazuka Kinen (2000) Kyoto Daishoten (2000, 2001) Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2000) Japan Cup (2000) Arima Kinen (2000) JRA Award for Best Four-Year-Old Colt (1999) Japanese Horse of the Year (2000) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2001) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. H.1965 2004 29 starts 16 wins: Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (1967) Tokyo Yonsai Stakes (1968) Tokyo Shimbun Hai (1969) Kyoto Kinen (Spring) (1969) Tenno Sho (Spring) (1969) Mainichi Okan (1969) British Fair Kaisai Kinen (1969) Keishusha Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1967) Japanese Horse of the Year (1969) Keishusha Award for Best Older Male Horse (1969) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: Ch. H.1994 1999 13 starts 11 wins: Unicorn Stakes (1997) Swan Stakes (1997) Mile Championship (1997, 1998) Sprinters Stakes (1997) Keio Hai Spring Cup (1998) Yasuda Kinen (1998) Prix Jacques Le Marois (1998) JRA Award for Best Sprinter or Miler (1997, 1998) Japanese Horse of the Year (1998) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (1998) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: Dk.B. H.1991 1997 21 starts 12 wins: Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (1993) Kyodo Tsushin Hai Yonsai Stakes (1994) Spring Stakes (1994) Satsuki Sho (1994) Tokyo Yushun (1994) Kikuka Sho (1994) Arima Kinen (1994) Hanshin Daishoten (1995, 1996) 5th Japanese Triple Crown Champion (1994) JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1993) Japanese Horse of the Year (1994) JRA Award for Best Four-Year-Old Colt (1994) Breeder:Owner:Trainer: B. H.1988 1995 12 starts 9 wins: Satsuki Sho (1991) Tokyo Yushun (1991) Sankei Osaka Hai (1992) Japan Cup (1992) Arima Kinen (1993) Japanese Horse of the Year (1991) JRA Award for Best Four-Year-Old Colt (1991) JRA Award for Best Horse by Domestic Sire (1991)