The is a Grade 2 (GII) flat horse race in Japan.
Background The Nikkei Shinshun Hai is a Grade II Thoroughbred handicap race in Japan, open to horses aged four years and older. It is held annually in mid-January at Kyoto Racecourse over a distance of 2,400 meters on turf (outer course). Eligible entrants must have raced at least once, and include JRA-trained horses, up to two certified NAR (local) horses, and foreign-trained horses with priority entry.
As a handicap race, weights are assigned based on each horse’s past performance to ensure competitive balance. The first-place prize in 2026 was ¥57 million. The race is officially titled the “Nikkei Shinshun Hai”, named after its sponsor, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) newspaper, and the winner receives the Nikkei Newspaper Prize. Notably, the winner also earns priority entry into Australia’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
History The Nikkei Shinshun Hai was first run on January 17, 1954, as the “Nihon Keizai Shinshun Hai” (日本経済新春杯) for horses aged five and older 5. It was renamed “Nikkei Shinshun Hai” in 1979. Originally contested over 2,400 meters on turf at Kyoto, the race briefly shifted to Hanshin Racecourse in 1980 and 1994. From 1987 to 1993, the distance was shortened to 2,200 meters. Weight conditions also varied: it began as a handicap, switched to weight-for-age (別定) from 1981 to 1993, then reverted to handicap thereafter. The race was elevated to Grade II status in 1984 with the introduction of JRA’s official grading system. International participation expanded gradually: foreign-bred horses were allowed from 1990, foreign-trained horses from 2006 (initially 4 runners), increasing to 8 in 2007 and 9 in 2015 following Japan’s IFHA Part I status. NAR horses gained eligibility in 2020.
Recent years saw temporary relocations due to infrastructure projects: it was held at Chukyo Racecourse over 2,200m from 2021 to 2023 and again in 2025.
Past winners YearWinnerAgeLength (in m)JockeyTrainerOwnerTime1954Daisan Hoshiu4T2400Michio UedaTakeshi UedaSeijiro Ueda2:34.41955Fujimitsuru4T2400Masaru KuritaTakeshi UedaSeijiro Ueda2:30.01956Hiya Kiohgan5T2400Masaru KuritaFumio TakedaChube Sakagami2:33.41957Nanba Ichiban4T2400Makoto OsawaKeiji TamayaNaoko Hamada2:30.21958Totsu Plan4T2400Masaru KuritaFumio TakedaToyoji Sakaya2:32.01959Takaharu4T2400Takeo KondoKatsuyoshi ItoKoho2:30.21960Fusaryuu4T2400Zenji MatsumotoFumio TakedaMasayuki Atarashi2:34.61961(dh)Taikan4T2400Masaru KuritaKatsuyoshi ItoKumazo Hayashi2:30.5Kiohgan HikariYoshito MatsumotoFumio TakedaChube Sakagami1962Homare Taikou4T2400Shuji KitahashiMasao MatsumotoToshio Ando2:32.61963Ryuforel4T2400Noriyuki MiyamotoSeisaku HashimotoEmiko Miyoshi2:36.91964Korai O4T2400Kunichi AsamiSaburo YoshidaMasatsugu Takada2:35.81965Ohime4T2400Minoru TashiroSosuke OgawaMasao Horiguchi2:31.71966Power Lassle4T2400Yoshito MatsumotoTadashi FuseChuji Hozumi2:33.11967Taikurana5T2400Kunihiko TakeHeizo TakeYoshio Akiyama2:29.01968Ryufaros5T2400Noriyuki MiyamotoSeisaku HashimotoTeizo Miyoshi2:29.91969Date Horai4T2400Akihiko UdaIzushi HoshikawaDate Bokujo2:35.61970Kinsen O4T2400Isami KoharaShoichi SakaguchiJosaburo Nakano2:27.61971Continental5T2400Akira TsudaTomihisa NohiraAsahi Bokujo2:35.11972Keishu5T2400Yoshitaka MatsumotoKunichi AsamiKeiji Yoshi2:37.01973Yumond4T2400Yoichi FukunagaBungo TakedaMasayuki Atarashi2:33.11974Hoshu Eito4T2400Kunihiko TakeKiyoshi HirasakoSeijiro Ueda2:29.41975East River5T2400Shuji KitahashiMasao MatsumotoKatsutoshi Kawato2:30.71976Long Hawk4T2400Yukiharu MatsudaYutaro MatsudaChoichi Nakai2:29.31977Horsemen Hope4T2400Yukiji OnoMinoru KobayashiTadashi Nakaji2:27.71978Zinkeight4T2400Eiji ShimizuMasaru FukushimaHoyishinobu Hayashi2:28.61979Suzuka Shimpū4T2400Toshifumi NakajimaTakeshi UedaEiichi Nagai2:28.51980Mejiro Tranzam4T2400Kunihiko TakeKunichi AsamiMejiro Shoji Co. Ltd.2:27.31981Kensei Good4T2400Katsuichi NishiuraKenji TomodashiKenzo Sugiyasu2:29.01982Ajishiba O4T2400Ichizo IwamotoMegumu NiwaYasuharu Sato2:29.81983Over Rainbow6T2400Yoshifumi TanakaKumimi TsuchikadoShigezo Torii2:28.91984Erimo Laura5D2600Shigetoshi SaruwatariKeizo UmeuchiShinichi Yamamoto2:43.31985Masahiko Boy6T2400Shigeaki TanaharaTakeo KuboSadao Miyamoto2:29.01986Fleet Hope4T2400Shigetoshi SaruwatariKeizo UmeuchiKiichi Kanemura2:28.91987Fresh Voice4T2200Shigeaki TanaharaNaoyuki SakaiKazuo Enjo2:16.11988Speed Hero6T2200Hiroshi KawachiHiroki SakakiKosuke Ichikawa2:15.31989Land Hiryu7T2200Hiroshi KawachiMinoru KobayashiZenichi Kimura2:14.41990Towa Triple4T2200Hitoshi MatoTakashi KarasakiKenichi Iyama2:15.01991Mercy Attra4T2200Hiroshi KawachiKoji OnoYasuo Nagai2:13.61992Kamino Cresse5T2200Katsumi MinaiYoshimi KudoMasaji Nogami2:15.21993El Casa River4T2200Yasunari YamadaRyohei TanakaClear Co. Ltd.2:14.01994Monsieur Chequeur6T2500Shinji FujitaMinoru KobayashiKeiichi Fujitate2:35.51995Go Go Zetto4T2400Yoshinori MuramotoHitoshi AraiYoshinobu Hayashi2:24.81996Hagino Real King6T2400Shinji FujitaMinoru KobayashiKokuchi Hikuma2:26.71997Mejiro Lambada4T2400Yutaka TakeYasuo IkeeMejiro Farm Ltd.2:27.61998Erimo Dandy4T2400Yutaka TakeMasaaki OkuboShinichi Yamamoto2:26.31999Mejiro Bright5T2400Hiroshi KawachiHidekazu AsamiMejiro Farm Ltd.2:31.42000Marvelous Timer6T2400Yutaka TakeTerumasa YanoSadao Sasahara2:24.32001Stay Gold7T2400Shinji FujitaYasuo IkeeShadai Race Horse Ltd.2:25.82002Top Commander5T2400Hirofumi ShiiHiroki SakiyamaJoy Racehorse Co. Ltd.2:26.42003Bamboo Juventus4T2400Hirofumi ShiiYoshiyasu TajimaBamboo Farm Ltd.2:25.82004Silk Famous5T2400Hirofumi ShiiIppo SameshinaSilk Ltd.2:24.52005Sakura Century5T2400Tetsuzō SatōShozo SasakiSakura Commerce Co. Ltd.2:29.02006Admire Fuji4T2400Yuichi FukunagaMitsuru HashidaRiichi Kondo2:26.32007Tokai Wild5T2400Katsumi AndōHitoshi NakamuraMasanori Uchimura2:27.42008Admire Monarch7T2400Katsumi AndōHiroyoshi MatsudaRiichi Kondo2:27.42009T M Precure6T2400Takuma OginoTadao IgarashiMasatsugu Takezono2:26.62010Meisho Beluga5T2400Kenichi IkezoeKaneo IkezoeYoshio Matsumoto2:24.42011Rulership4T2400Umberto RispoliKatsuhiko SumiiSunday Racing Ltd.2:24.62012To The Glory5T2400Yuichi FukunagaYasutoshi IkeeCarrot Farm Ltd.2:23.72013Capote Star4T2400Ryō TakakuraYoshito YahagiToshiko Bizenjima2:25.02014Satono Noblesse4T2400Christophe LemaireYasutoshi IkeeHajime Satomi2:24.42015Admire Deus4T2400Yasunari IwataMitsuru HashidaRiichi Kondo2:24.82016Reve Mistral4T2400Yuga KawadaHiroyoshi MatsudaSunday Racing Ltd.2:25.92017Mikki Rocket4T2400Ryuji WadaHidetaka OtonashiMizuki Noda2:25.72018Perform A Promise6T2400Mirco DemuroHideaki FujiwaraSunday Racing Ltd.2:26.32019Glory Vase4T2400Mirco DemuroTomohito OzekiSilk Racing Ltd.2:26.22020Mozu Bello4T2400Kenichi IkezoeNaoyuki MoritaCapital System Co. Ltd.2:26.92021Shoryu Ikuzo5T2200Taisei DannoShozo SasakiYoshie Ueda2:11.82022Yoho Lake4T2200Yuga KawadaYasuo TomomichiKaneko Masato Holdings Co. Ltd.2:11.72023Weltreisende6T2200David EganYasutoshi IkeeSunday Racing Ltd.2:14.22024Blow the Horn5T2400Akira SugawaraEiji NakanoMakio Okada2:23.72025Lord del Rey5T2200Atsuya NishimuraMitsumasa NakauchidaRoad Horse Club Co. Ltd.2:09.82026Goltzschtal4T2400Ryusei SakaiHaruki SugiyamaSunday Racing Ltd.2:25.7 The 1984 running was run on Dirt at the distance of 2,600m The 2021, 2022 and 2023 runnings took place at Chukyo while Kyoto was closed for redevelopment. The 2025 running took place at Chukyo while Hanshin was closed for redevelopment.
See also Horse racing in Japan List of Japanese flat horse races
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