The is a
Grade 1 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 ...
open to
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 which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) at
Nakayama Racecourse, and it takes place annually in late September or early October.
It was first run in 1967, and was given Domestic Grade 3 status when race grading was introduced to Japan in 1984. This was elevated to Domestic Grade 2 in 1987, Domestic Grade 1 in 1990, and to its present level in 2006. Horses trained outside Japan have been eligible to run in the race since 1994. Prior to 2000 the race was run in December, the week before the
Arima Kinen
The Arima Kinen (有馬記念) is a Conditions races, Grade I Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds three-years-old and above and the world's largest betting horserace. It is run in late December each year, over ...
(Grand Prix).
It is now the seventh leg in the nine race
Global Sprint Challenge series, preceded by the
July Cup
The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 me ...
in Britain and followed by
The Age Classic, in Australia.
The 2014 running of the Sprinters Stakes was held at
Niigata Racecourse, since Nakayama Racecourse was closed for renovations to the grandstand. The race was previously held in Niigata in 2002.
Winners since 1994
The 2002 race took place at
Niigata Racecourse.
Earlier winners
* 1967 - Onward Hill
* 1968 - Suzu Hayate
* 1969 - Takeshiba O
* 1970 - Tamami
* 1971 - Kensachi
* 1972 - Noboru Toko
* 1973 - Kyoei Green
* 1974 - Sakura Iwai
* 1975 - Sakura Iwai
* 1976 - Jumbo King
* 1977 - Meiwa Kimiko
* 1978 - Meiwa Kimiko
* 1979 - Sunny Flower
* 1981 - Sakura God
* 1982 - Sakura Shingeki
* 1983 - Shin Wolf
* 1984 - Happy Progress
* 1985 - Marutaka Storm
* 1986 - Dokan Tesco
* 1987 - King Frolic
* 1988 - Dyna Actress
* 1989 - Winning Smile
* 1990 - Bamboo Memory
* 1991 - Daiichi Ruby
* 1992 - Nishino Flower
* 1993 - Sakura Bakushin O
See also
*
Horse racing in Japan
*
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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*
Racing Post
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...
:
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External links
Horse Racing in Japan
{{Japanese Grade I horse races
Open sprint category horse races
Horse races in Japan
Turf races in Japan
1967 establishments in Japan
Horse races established in 1967