List of Japanese flat horse races

This is a list of notable flat horse races held annually in Japan.

Overview With the exception of the Tokyo Daishōten, all graded races, including every race currently designated as Grade 1, 2, or 3, are organized by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). In Japanese, these prestigious events are known as , which translates literally to “Big race”.

List (JRA)

Grade 1 Month Race Name Racecourse Dist. (m) Age/Sex2026 winner (2025 winner in italics)2025 win prize February Stakes Tokyo (dirt) 1,600 4yo+ Costa Nova¥120,000,000 Takamatsunomiya Kinen Chukyo 1,200 4yo+ Satono Reve¥170,000,000 Ōsaka Hai Hanshin 2,000 4yo+ Croix du Nord¥300,000,000 Oka Sho Hanshin 1,600 3yo f Star Anise ¥140,000,000 Satsuki Shō Nakayama 2,000 3yo c&f, no g Lovcen¥200,000,000 Tennō Shō (Spring) Kyoto 3,200 4yo+ Croix du Nord¥300,000,000 NHK Mile Cup Tokyo 1,600 3yo c&f, no g Rodeo Drive¥130,000,000 Victoria Mile Tokyo 1,600 4yo+ f Embroidery¥130,000,000 Yushun Himba Tokyo 2,400 3yo f Juryoku Pierrot ¥150,000,000 Tōkyō Yūshun Tokyo 2,400 3yo c&f, no g Lovcen¥300,000,000 Yasuda Kinen Tokyo 1,600 3yo+ Sixpence ¥180,000,000 Takarazuka Kinen Hanshin 2,200 3yo+ Meisho Tabaru¥300,000,000 Sprinters Stakes Nakayama 1,200 3yo+ Puro Magic ¥170,000,000 Shūka Sho Kyoto 2,000 3yo f Embroidery¥110,000,000 Kikuka-shō Kyoto 3,000 3yo c&f, no g Energico ¥200,000,000 Tennō Shō (Autumn) Tokyo 2,000 3yo+ Masquerade Ball¥300,000,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Kyoto 2,200 3yo+ f Regaleira¥130,000,000 Mile Championship Kyoto 1,600 3yo+ Jantar Mantar¥180,000,000 Japan Cup Tokyo 2,400 3yo+ Calandagan¥500,000,000 Champions Cup Chukyo (dirt) 1,800 3yo+ W Heart Bond ¥120,000,000 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Hanshin 1,600 2yo f Star Anise¥65,000,000 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes Hanshin 1,600 2yo c&f, no g Cavallerizzo¥70,000,000 Arima Kinen Nakayama 2,500 3yo+ Museum Mile¥500,000,000 Hopeful Stakes Nakayama 2,000 2yo c&f, no g Lovcen ¥70,000,000

Grade 2 Month Race Name Racecourse Dist. (m) Age/Sex2026 winner (2025 winner in italics) Nikkei Shinshun Hai Kyoto 2,400 4yo+Goltzschtal American Jockey Club Cup Nakayama 2,200 4yo+ Shohei Procyon Stakes Chukyo (dirt) 1,800 4yo+ Lord Couronne Kyoto Kinen Kyoto 2,200 4yo+ June Take Nakayama Kinen Nakayama 1,800 4yo+ Lebensstil Tulip Sho Hanshin 1,600 3yo f Taisei Vogue Yayoi Sho Nakayama 2,000 3yo Basse Terre Fillies' Revue Hanshin 1,400 3yo f Ghillies' Ball Kinko Sho Chukyo 2,000 4yo+ Shake Your Heart Spring Stakes Nakayama 1,800 3yo c&f Audacia Hanshin Daishoten Hanshin 3,000 4yo+ Admire Terra Nikkei Sho Nakayama 2,500 4yo+ My Universe New Zealand Trophy Nakayama 1,600 3yo c&f Reservation Hanshin Himba Stakes Hanshin 1,600 4yo+ f Embroidery Flora Stakes Tokyo 2,000 3yo f Laughterlines Yomiuri Milers Cup Kyoto 1,600 4yo+ Admire Zoom Aoba Sho Tokyo 2,400 3yo Going to Sky Kyoto Shimbun Hai Kyoto 2,200 3yo Congestus Keio Hai Spring Cup Tokyo 1,400 4yo+ World's End Meguro Kinen Tokyo 2,500 4yo+ Feiern Kranz Sapporo Kinen Sapporo 2,000 3yo+ Shake Your Heart Shion Stakes Nakayama 2,000 3yo f Master Soarer Centaur Stakes Hanshin 1,200 3yo+ Flicker Jab Rose Stakes Hanshin 1,800 3yo f Monroe Walk St Lite Kinen Nakayama 2,200 3yo Justin Chicago Sankei Sho All Comers Nakayama 2,200 3yo+ Meisho Gekirin Kobe Shimbun Hai Hanshin 2,400 3yo c&f Lovcen Mainichi Okan Tokyo 1,800 3yo+ Seiun Hades Kyoto Daishoten Kyoto 2,400 3yo+ Ecoro Dinos Ireland Trophy Tokyo 1,800 3yo+ f Lavanda Fuji Stakes Tokyo 1,600 3yo+ Gaia Force Swan Stakes Kyoto 1,400 3yo+ Off Trail Keio Hai Nisai Stakes Tokyo 1,400 2yo Diamond Knot Copa Republica Argentina Tokyo 2,500 3yo+ Mystery Way Daily Hai Nisai Stakes Kyoto 1,600 2yo Admire Quads Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes Tokyo 1,800 2yo Peintre Naif Stayers Stakes Nakayama 3,600 3yo+ Hohelied Hanshin Cup Hanshin 1,400 3yo+ Lugal

Grade 3 Month Race Name Racecourse Dist. (m) Age/Sex2026 winner (2025 winner in italics) Nakayama Kimpai Nakayama 2,000 4yo+Kalamatianos Kyoto Kimpai Kyoto 1,600 4yo+ Buena Onda Fairy Stakes Nakayama 1,600 3yo f Black Chalice Shinzan Kinen Kyoto 1,600 3yo Thunderstruck Keisei Hai Nakayama 2,000 3yoGreen Energy Kokura Himba Stakes Kokura 2,000 4yo+ f Jocelyn Negishi Stakes Tokyo (dirt) 1,400 4yo+ Lord Fons Silk Road Stakes Kyoto 1,200 4yo+ Fioraia Tokyo Shimbun Hai Tokyo 1,600 4yo+ Trovatore Kisaragi Sho Kyoto 1,800 3yo Zoroastro Queen Cup Tokyo 1,600 3yo f Dream Core Tokinominoru Kinen Tokyo 1,800 3yo Realize Sirius Diamond Stakes Tokyo 3,400 4yo+ Stinger Glass Kokura Daishoten Kokura 1,800 4yo+ Tagano Dude Hankyu Hai Hanshin 1,400 4yo+ Sonshi Aichi Hai Chukyo 1,400 4yo+ f Ai Sansan Ocean Stakes Nakayama 1,200 4yo+ Pair Pollux Nakayama Himba Stakes Nakayama 1,800 4yo+ f Ethelfleda Flower Cup Nakayama 1,800 3yo f Smart Priere Falcon Stakes Chukyo 1,400 3yo Diamond Knot Mainichi Hai Hanshin 1,800 3yo Altramuz March Stakes Nakayama (dirt) 1,800 4yo+ Sunday Funday Lord Derby Challenge Trophy Nakayama 1,600 4yo+ Suzu Khalom Churchill Downs Cup Hanshin 1,600 3yo Ask Ikigomi Antares Stakes Hanshin (dirt) 1,800 4yo+ Meursault Fukushima Himba Stakes Fukushima 1,800 4yo+ f Koganeno Sora Niigata Daishoten Niigata 2,000 4yo+ Gran Dia Unicorn Stakes Kyoto (dirt) 1,900 3yo Silver Ratio Heian Stakes Kyoto (dirt) 1,900 4yo+ Lord Couronne Aoi Stakes Kyoto 1,200 3yo Dea Veloce Epsom Cup Tokyo 1,800 3yo+ Trovatore Fuchu Himba Stakes Tokyo 1,800 3yo+ f Sekitoba East Hakodate Sprint Stakes Hakodate 1,200 3yo+ Puro Magic Radio Nikkei Sho Fukushima 1,800 3yo Sanono Greater Kitakyushu Kinen Kokura 1,200 3yo+ Flicker Jab Shirasagi Stakes Hanshin 1,600 3yo+ Elton Barows Tanabata Sho Fukushima 2,000 3yo+ Ask Nice Show Tokai Stakes Chukyo (dirt) 1,400 3yo+ Matenro Command Hakodate Kinen Hakodate 2,000 3yo+ Faust Rasen Chukyo Kinen Chukyo 1,600 3yo+ Lavanda Hakodate Nisai Stakes Hakodate 1,200 2yo Felicita Ibis Summer Dash Niigata 1,000 3yo+ Puro Magic Queen Stakes Sapporo 1,800 3yo+ f Coconuts Brown Leopard Stakes Niigata (dirt) 1,800 3yo Coeli Vento Kokura Kinen Kokura 2,000 3yo+ Zendan Hayabusa Sekiya Kinen Niigata 1,600 3yo+ Ampadu CBC Sho Chukyo 1,200 3yo+ From Dusk Elm Stakes Sapporo (dirt) 1,700 3yo+ Luxor Cafe Niigata Nisai Stakes Niigata 1,600 2yo Lotschberg Keeneland Cup Sapporo 1,200 3yo+ Sound Moryana Sapporo Nisai Stakes Sapporo 1,800 2yo Shonan Galleon Chukyo Nisai Stakes Chukyo 1,400 2yo G T Maika Niigata Kinen Niigata 2,000 3yo+ Zoroastro Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap Nakayama 1,600 3yo+ Piko Rose Challenge Cup Hanshin 2,000 3yo+ Giovanni Sirius Stakes Hanshin (dirt) 2,000 3yo+ Walzer Schall Saudi Arabia Royal Cup Tokyo 1,600 2yo Ecoro Alba Artemis Stakes Tokyo 1,600 2yo f Firostefani Fantasy Stakes Kyoto 1,400 2yo f Festival Hill Miyako Stakes Kyoto (dirt) 1,800 3yo+ W Heart Bond Musashino Stakes Tokyo (dirt) 1,600 3yo+ Luxor Cafe Fukushima Kinen Fukushima 2,000 3yo+ Nishino Ti Amo Kyoto Nisai Stakes Kyoto 2,000 2yo Justin Vista Keihan Hai Kyoto 1,200 3yo+ A T Makfi Naruo Kinen Hanshin 1,800 3yo+ David Barows Chunichi Shimbun Hai Chukyo 2,000 3yo+ Shake Your Heart Capella Stakes Nakayama (dirt) 1,200 3yo+ T O Elvis Turquoise Stakes Nakayama 1,600 3yo+ f Drop of Light

Listed From 2019, Japan Racing Association introduced new "Listed" category, prize value is higher than normal open race.

Month Race Name Racecourse Dist. (m) Age/Sex2026 winner (2025 winner in italics) Junior Cup Nakayama 1,600 3yoResort Island Kobai Stakes Kyoto 1,400 3yofLily Joie Wakagoma Stakes Kyoto 2,000 3yoShonan Hayanami New Year Stakes Nakayama 1,600 4yo+Ka Pilina Yodo Tankyori Stakes Kyoto 1,200 4yo+Yabusame Subaru Stakes Kyoto (dirt) 1,400 4yo+Kitano's Edge Crocus Stakes Tokyo 1,400 3yoHornero Shirafuji Stakes Tokyo 2,000 4yo+Danon CimaFebruaryElfin StakesKyoto1,6003yo fSweet Happiness Rakuyo Stakes Kyoto 1,600 4yo+Suzu Khalom Hyacinth Stakes Tokyo (dirt) 1,600 3yoLucky Kid Nigawa Stakes Hanshin (dirt) 2,000 4yo+June Aoniyoshi Sumire Stakes Hanshin 2,200 3yoLarge EnsembleFebruaryMarguerite StakesHanshin1,2003yoTamamo Icarus Osakajo Stakes Hanshin 1,800 4yo+Dragon Boost Anemone Stakes Nakayama 1,600 3yoDear DiamondMarchCoral StakesHanshin (dirt)1,4004yo+Justin EarthMarchKochi StakesNakayama1,6004yo+Valkyrie BirthMarchWakaba StakesHanshin2,0003yoMatenro GaleMarchRokko StakesHanshin1,6004yo+Bellagio BondAprilShunrai StakesNakayama1,2004yo+Craspedia Wasurenagusa Sho Hanshin 2,000 3yofJuryoku PierrotAprilFukushima Mimpo HaiFukushima2,0004yo+SavonaAprilKeiyo StakesNakayama (dirt)1,2004yo+Namura FrankAprilOasis StakesTokyo (dirt)1,6004yo+Don in the Mood Sweetpea Stakes Tokyo 1,800 3yofCanal Saint Martin Principal Stakes Tokyo 2,000 3yoMeisho HachikoMayBrilliant StakesTokyo (dirt)2,1004yo+Tight KnitMayMetropolitan StakesTokyo2,4004yo+West NowMayTachibana StakesKyoto1,4003yoTagano AraliaMayTanigawadake StakesNiigata1,4004yo+Run for VowMayRitto StakesKyoto (dirt)1,4004yo+Tagano MistMayMiyakooji StakesKyoto1,8004yo+GaiamenteMayHosu StakesKyoto (dirt)1,8003yoItterasshai Shirayuri Stakes Kyoto 1,800 3yoRosa RugosaMayAzuchijo StakesKyoto1,4004yo+Ecoro BloomJuneParadise StakesTokyo1,4003yo+Meiner TicketJulyOnuma StakesHakodate (dirt)1,7003yo+Wide Blizzard Sapporo Nikkei Open Sapporo 2,600 3yo+Mirage KnightAugustMeitetsu HaiChukyo (dirt)1,8003yo+Cours MirabeauAugustToki StakesNiigata1,4003yo+Shonan XanaduAugustBsn ShoNiigata (dirt)1,8003yo+Meisho ZuiunAugustCluster CupMorioka1,2003yo+Anzu AmeSeptemberEnf StakesHanshin (dirt)1,4003yo+God Blue Bee Port Island Stakes Hanshin 1,600 3yo+Danon Century Opal Sprint Stakes Kyoto 1,200 3yo+Lily Joie Green Channel Stakes Tokyo 1,400 3yo+Don Erectus October Stakes Tokyo 2,000 3yo+ Shinetsu Stakes Niigata 1,400 3yo+ Ivy Stakes Tokyo 1,800 2yo Lumiere Autumn Dash Niigata 1,000 3yo+ Brazil Cup Tokyo 2,100 3yo+ Hagi Stakes Kyoto 1,800 2yo Capital Stakes Tokyo 1,600 3yo+ December Stakes Nakayama 1,800 3yo+

Other Open Races