The Kawasaki Kinen (Kawasaki Memorial) (川崎記念) is a Japanese thoroughbred horse race on dirt track for horses aged four years or older. It was graded as a domestic grade 1 race in 1998. Held in early April, it is the first (domestic) grade 1 race in Japanese horseracing season. Its name comes from its venue, the Kawasaki Racecourse, which in turn is named after the city that it is situated in; Kawasaki city in Kanagawa prefecture.
This race was formerly regarded as a preparation race for the Dubai World Cup, along with the February Stakes. Although some past winners (such as Smart Falcon and Vermilion) ran the Dubai World Cup after winning this race, only Ushba Tesoro won both the Kawasaki Kinen and the Dubai World Cup. But in 2024, the race schedule was moved from January to April, losing the race's status as a preparation race for the Dubai World Cup and February Stakes.
Records Most successful horses (3 wins):
Most successful horses (3 wins): Countess Up – 1985, 1986, 1987 Hokko Tarumae – 2014, 2015, 2016
Other repeat winners (2 wins): Ichi Kanto – 1958, 1959 Gold Spencer – 1980, 1981 Daring Grass – 1982, 1984 Hokuto Vega – 1996, 1997 Abukuma Poro – 1998, 1999 T.M. Opera O – 2007, 2010 Chuwa Wizard – 2020, 2022
Winners since 2000 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Organization Time2000Intelli Power5Takashi HaritaShigemi AkiyamaIso-o SahashiKawasaki2:14.52001Regular Member4Mikio MatsunagaYamamoto SyoujiNorth Hills Ltd.JRA2:12.92002Regent Bluff4Yutaka YoshidaYoukichi OkuboAkihiro OharaJRA2:16.22003Kanetsu Fleuve6Mikio MatsunagaYamamoto SyoujiLaurel Racing Co.JRA2:14.82004Esprit Thes5Hiroshi MorishitaEi-ichi TakeiYasuo YodaKawasaki2:12.82005Time Paradox7Yutaka TakeHiroyoshi MatsudaShadai Racing Ltd.JRA2:14.22006Adjudi Mitsuo5Hiroyuki UchidaMasayuki KawashimaMasao OrudoFunabashi2:12.82007Vermilion5Christophe LemaireSei IshizakaSunday Racing Ltd.JRA2:12.92008Field Rouge6Norihiro YokoyamaMasato NishizonoKatsumi ChidaJRA2:13.12009Kane Hekili7Christophe LemaireKatsuhiko SumiiKaneko Makoto Holdings Co.JRA2:13.32010Vermilion8Yutaka TakeSei IshizakaSunday Racing Ltd.JRA2:12.72011Furioso7Keita TosakiMasayuki KawashimaDarley Japan K.K.Funabashi2:14.22012Smart Falcon7Yutaka TakeKen KozakiTouru OkawaJRA2:10.72013Hatano Vainqueur4Hirofumi ShiiMitsugu KonGood Luck FarmJRA2:15.42014Hokko Tarumae5Hideaki MiyukiKatsuichi NishiuraKoichi YabeJRA2:13.82015Hokko Tarumae6Hideaki MiyukiKatsuichi NishiuraKoichi YabeJRA2:16.92016Hokko Tarumae7Hideaki MiyukiKatsuichi NishiuraKoichi YabeJRA2:14.12017All Blush5Christophe LemaireAkira MurayamaShadai Racing Ltd.JRA2:14.62018K T Brave5Yuichi FukunagaTetsuya MenoKazuyoshi TakimotoJRA2:14.92019Mitsuba7Ryuji WadaTadashi KayoK.K. KyoeiJRA2:15.02020Chuwa Wizard5Yuga KawadaRyuji OkuboShinobu NakanishiJRA2:14.12021Casino Fountain5Kaoru HaritaTakayuki YamashitaKosei YoshihashiFunabashi2:14.92022Chuwa Wizard7Yuga KawadaRyuji OkuboShinobu NakanishiJRA2:14.92023Ushba Tesoro6Kazuo YokoyamaNoboru TakagiRyotokuji Kenji Holdings Co., Ltd.JRA2:16.02024Light Warrior7Hiroto YoshiharaKatsuyoshi UchidaU Carrot FarmKawasaki2:15.52025Meisho Hario8Suguru HamanakaInao OkadaYoshio MatsumotoJRA2:18.02026Kazeno Runner5Atsuya NishimuraMikio MatsunagaKodai MaedaJRA2:14.6
Earlier winners
1951 - Ezo Tetsuzan 1952 - Kiyofuji 1953 - Ikaho dake 1954 - Ichisachi Homare 1955 - Asakuni 1956 - Kane Eikan 1957 - Sweetheart 1958 - Ichi Kanto 1959 - Ichi Kanto 1960 - A Time 1961 - Ichiasahide 1962 - Asabue 1963 - Sakimidori 1964 - Galing 1965 - Tetsuryu 1966 - Eikozan 1967 - Hello Time 1968 - Marble Arch 1969 - Ashiya Fuji 1970 - Apo Speed 1971 - Ryuto Kitsu 1973 - Nero 1974 - Golden Snap 1975 - Maruichi Daio 1976 - Hideno Arashi 1977 - Plus One 1978 - F.Chirin 1979 - Tagawa Ace 1980 - Gold Spencer 1981 - Gold Spencer 1982 - Daring Grass 1983 - Kanesho Super 1984 - Daring Grass 1985 - Countess Up 1986 - Countess Up 1987 - Countess Up 1988 - Tomihisa Dancer 1989 - Aeroplane 1990 - Rosita 1991 - Daiko Galdan 1992 - Toshin Eagle 1993 - Hashiru Shogun 1994 - Sakura High Speed 1995 - Amazon Opera 1996 - Hokuto Vega 1997 - Hokuto Vega 1998 - Abukuma Poro 1999 - Abukuma Poro
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