The is a Grade 3 (GIII) flat horse race in Japan.
Background The Kyoto Kimpai is a Grade III Thoroughbred handicap race in Japan, open to horses aged four years and older. It is held annually on January 5 (or January 6 if the 5th falls on a Friday) at Kyoto Racecourse over a distance of 1,600 meters on turf (outer course). Eligible entrants must have raced at least once and cannot be unraced or maiden horses. The field includes 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. The first-place prize in 2026 is ¥43 million.
The race is officially titled the “Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai”, sponsored by Sports Nippon newspaper, and the winner receives the Sports Nippon Newspaper Prize.
History The Kyoto Kimpai traces its origins to the “Geishun Sho (迎春賞)”, first run on January 3, 1963, for horses aged five and older over 2,000 meters on turf at Kyoto Racecourse. In 1966, it was renamed “Kin Hai (金盃)”, and in 1970, the spelling was updated to “Kimpai (金杯)”. From 1966 to 1995, it shared its name with the Nakayama Kimpai (run at Nakayama Racecourse), together forming Japan’s traditional New Year’s Day graded stakes doubleheader. To distinguish the two, the Kyoto version was officially renamed “Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai” in 1996. Weight conditions shifted over time: it began as a handicap, switched to weight-for-age (別定) from 1966 to 1980, then reverted to handicap in 1981, where it has remained ever since. A transformation occurred in 2000, when the distance was shortened from 2,000m to 1,600m, repositioning the race as a key early-season test for milers rather than stayers.
The race was designated Grade III in 1984 under JRA’s grading system. International participation expanded gradually: foreign-bred horses were allowed from 1993, foreign-trained horses from 2006 (initially 4 runners, later 8 in 2007 and 9 in 2015), and NAR horses from 2020. Due to Kyoto Racecourse renovations, the race was temporarily relocated to Chukyo Racecourse from 2021 to 2023 and again in 2025.
Like its Nakayama counterpart, it is affectionately known by the fan saying: “Ichinen no kei wa Kinpai ni ari” (“The year’s plan lies in the Kimpai”).
Past winners YearWinnerAgeLength (in m)JockeyTrainerOwnerTime1963Suzu Riu52000Yoshito MatsumotoMasaharu HashimotoEmiko Miyoshi2:07.41964Katsura Ace52000Yoshito MatsumotoMasaharu HashimotoIchitaro Maki2:05.91965Korai O52000Michio UedaSaburo YoshidaMasayoshi Takada2:04.71966Keystone42000Shoji YamamotoYoshitaro MatsudaYoshigoro Ito2:05.81967Yamaniryu42000Shigetada TakahashiTomie KashiwagiMotoo Kitazawa2:04.71968Atlas42000Kunihiko TakeTameo ToyamaShigeo Matsuoka2:03.41969Fine Rose42000Yoshinori YanadaJuubee TsuboHisahiro Yoshida2:03.41970Houun42000Yasuo IkeeKeizo UmeuchiChoichi Nakai2:03.91971Kei Takashi62000Yasuo IkeeKuniichi AsamiKeiji Uchida2:07.21972Fidole42000Hiroshi TakedaBungo TakedaKikue Ohara2:07.81973Yumond42000Yoichi FukunagaBungo TakedaMasayuki Atarashi2:08.31974Naoki52000Shoji SasakiYasuzo TanakaSakurayama Hose Co. Ltd.2:01.41975Hakusan Homare52000Kazuaki KuboTakeru YoshinagaKatsu Fuwa2:04.01976Three York52000Takayoshi DeguchiSaichi SuwaNagai Shoji Co. Ltd.2:04.41977Koichi Saburo42000Yoshito MatsumotoHozumi ShonoKatsura Tochi Co. Ltd.2:02.81978Linear Queen42000Yukiharu MatsudaYoshitaro MatsudaTatsuzo Oketani2:04.01979Inter Gushiken42000Kunihiko TakeRyoichi HisakoMasao Matsuoka2:02.71980Great Titan52000Kunihiko TakeSaburo YoshidaSadajiro Nagasoko2:03.41981Western George52000Tadashi KayoShuji KitahashiNishikawa Shoji Co. Ltd.2:00.91982Tama Top52000Shigeo KoshojiTatsuo NatsumuraMasao Tamai2:03.21983Miss Radical42000Hidetaka OtonashiRyohei TanakaYuichi Odagiri2:02.51984Long Grace42000Seiki TabaraMinoru KobayashiChoichi Nakai2:03.61985Mejiro Thomas42000Yoshiyuki MuramotoYasuo IkeeMejiro Farm Ltd.2:02.31986Eiko French52000Nobuyuki TajimaIsao YasudaKenichi Ikeuchi2:03.81987Dokan Yashima72000Eiji ShimizuAkira ShikatoArai Kogyo Co. Ltd.2:03.21988Tamamo Cross42000Katsumi MinaiIsami ObaraTamamo Co. Ltd.2:03.71989Katsu Tokushin42000Mikio MatsunagaIsao YasudaTsuneroku Watanabe2:00.51990Osaichi George42000Katsuhide MaruyamaKazumi DomonChoichi Node2:01.91991Dai Yusaku62000Shigeyuki KumazawaShigeharu NaitoKohei Hashimoto2:00.11992White Arrow52000Seiki TabaraYukiharu OnoHigashiyama Horse Co. Ltd.2:02.21993El Casa River42000Taisei YamadaRyohei TanakaClear Co. Ltd.2:01.41994Eishin Tennessee52000Seiki TabaraMasanori SakaguchiToyomitsu Hirai2:02.81995Wako Chikako52000Olivier PeslierYuji ItoTakao Ishida1:59.71996T.M. Jumbo52000Hiroshi KawachiTadashi FuseMasatsugu Takezono1:59.71997Ishino Sunday42000Hirofumi ShiiKenji YamauchiIshijima Co. Ltd.2:02.31998Midnight Bet42000Olivier PeslierHiroyuki NagahamaShadai Race Horse Ltd.2:00.61999Hikari Sarment52000Hiroshi KawachiTsugio YanagidaTakanori Toyama1:59.52000Kyoei March61600Shinichiro AkiyamaAkihiko NomuraTomee Matsuoka1:33.42001Daitaku Riva41600Mikio MatsunagaKojiro HashiguchiTaiyo Farm Ltd.1:33.42002Daitaku Riva51600Yutaka TakeKojiro HashiguchiTaiyo Farm Ltd.1:33.82003Sidewinder51600Hirofumi ShiiShuji KitahashiKyoei Co. Ltd.1:33.72004My Sole Sound51600Masaru HondaKatsuichi NishiuraKiyoshi Sano1:33.32005Hat Trick41600Yutaka TakeKatsuhiko SumiiCarrot Farm Ltd.1:34.02006Big Planet41600Ryuji WadaKatsumi MinaiBig Co. Ltd.1:34.02007Meiner Scherti41600Yoshitomi ShibataRyuichi InabaThoroughbred Club Ruffian Co. Ltd.1:33.92008Eishin Deputy61600Yasunari IwataAkira NomotoToyomitsu Hirai1:33.62009Tamamo Support61600Akihide TsumuraKenichi FujiokaTamamo Co. Ltd.1:32.92010Live Concert61600Yasunari IwataToshiaki ShiraiGreen Fields Co. Ltd.1:34.12011Silport61600Futoshi KomakiMasato NihizonoTakeo Hyakuman1:33.42012Meiner Lacrima61600Masami MatsuokaHiroyuki UeharaThoroughbred Club Ruffian Co. Ltd.1:32.92013Danon Shark51600Christophe LemaireRyuji OkuboDanox Co. Ltd.1:33.52014Extra End51600Christophe LemaireKatsuhiko SumiiShadai Race Horse Ltd.1:32.52015Win Full Bloom41600Kenichi IkezoeHiroshi MiyamotoWin Co. Ltd.1:32.82016Win Primera61600Yuga KawadaRyuji OkuboWin Co. Ltd.1:33.02017Air Spinel41600Yutaka TakeKazuhide SasadaLucky Field Co. Ltd.1:32.82018Black Moon61600Yutaka TakeKatsuichi NishiuraHim Rock Racing1:34.32019Pax Americana41600Yuga KawadaMitsumasa NakauchidaSanshisuimei Co. Ltd.1:34.92020Sound Chiara51600Kohei MatsuyamaAkio AdachiYuichi Masuda1:34.02021Cadence Call51600Yasunari IwataTakayuki YasudaSunday Racing Ltd.1:33.12022Zadar61600Kohei MatsuyamaMasahiro OtakeCarrot Farm Ltd.1:32.92023Elusive Panther51600Mirai IwataTakashi KubotaTsunefumi Kusama1:32.72024Corepetiteur41600Yasunari IwataKazuya NakatakeMakoto Kato1:33.82025Sakura Toujours81600Rachel KingNoriyuki HoriSakura Commerce Co. Ltd.1:33.52026Buena Onda51600Yuga KawadaNaosuke SugaiKaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd.1:33.7 The 2020, 2021 and 2022 runnings took place at Chukyo while Kyoto was closed for redevelopment. The 2025 runnings 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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