The Aoba Sho (
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
青葉賞) is a Japanese
Grade 2 flat horse race
Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
in
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
for three-year-old
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
s. It is run over a distance of 2400 metres at
Tokyo Racecourse
is located in Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1933 for horse racing, it is considered the "racecourse of racecourses" in Japanese horseracing. It has a capacity of 223,000, with seating for 13,750.
Tokyo Racecourse hosts numerous G1 (Grade 1) ...
in April.
The Aoba Sho was first run in 1984 and was elevated to Grade 3 status in 1994 before being promoted to Grade 2 in 2001. It serves as a trial race for the
Tokyo Yushun
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, held in late May or early June. The Aoba Sho winner and second-placed horse are each awarded a slot for the race.
Among the winners of the race have been
Symboli Kris S
Symboli Kris S (, foaled January 21, 1999 in the United States – December 8, 2020) was a Japanese Thoroughbred race horse and sire. He was voted Japanese Horse of the Year in 2002 and 2003. He was retired at the end of 2003 and was syndicat ...
,
Zenno Rob Roy
(27 March 2000 – 2 September 2022) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. In a racing career which lasted from February 2003 until December 2005, he ran twenty times, winning seven races and being placed on ten further occasi ...
and
Fenomeno.
Winners since 2000
Earlier winners
* 1984 - Rush And Go
* 1985 - Hamano Captain
* 1986 - Sunny Light
* 1987 - Chokai Fleet
* 1988 - Gakuen To Beat
* 1989 - Sir Pen Up
* 1990 - Bigmouth
* 1991 - Leo Durban
* 1992 - Golden Zeus
* 1993 - Stage Champ
* 1994 - Air Dublin
* 1995 - Summer Suspicion
* 1996 - Mountain Stone
* 1997 - Tokio Excellent
* 1998 - Tayasu Again
* 1999 - Painted Black
See also
*
Horse racing in Japan
is a popular equestrian sport in Japan, with more than 21,000 horse races held each year. Three types of racing take place in Japan - flat racing, jump racing, and Ban'ei Racing (also called Draft Racing).
In Japan, horse racing is organized b ...
*
List of Japanese flat horse races
This is a list of notable Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse races which take place annually in Japan. Except for the Tokyo Daishoten, all graded races are operated by Japan Racing Association, including all conditions races which currently hold ...
References
*Netkeiba:
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{{Japanese Grade II horse races
Turf races in Japan
Horse races established in 1984