One of the premier end-of-year staying races, the Japan Cup has long been a race of dreams and it’s one of the most watched thoroughbred races in the world.
Held at Tokyo in November, the 2400m staying feature includes the best stayers in Japan and often an international contingent lines up, including horses from Europe and Australasia.
Ranked alongside the likes of the Melbourne Cup and Prix de I’Arc, the Japan Cup is a true test of stamina and punters love betting on Japan’s biggest race.
Date
Sunday 24th November, 2024
Track
Tokyo Racecourse
Distance
1m4f
Class
Group 1
Race Type
Set Weights
Prize Money
US$5.8 million
Age
3YO+
Japan Cup betting card
There are 11 races on the Japan Cup card, including three maiden races and seven stakes-graded events.
Race 1: Maiden 1400m
Race 2: Maiden 1600m
Race 3: Maiden 2000m
Race 4: 2YO WFA
Race 5: 3YO+ Dirt
Race 6: 3YO+ Dirt
Race 7: Begonia Sho
Race 8: Oriental Sho
Race 9: Shangrila Sho
Race 10: Welcome Stakes
Race 11: Japan Cup
Japan Cup betting selections & tips
We will have free tips for the 2021 Japan Cup available when markets are released.
Japan Cup history
Despite having only a brief period of history, the Japan Cup has quickly become one of the more respected staying races in the world.
It was first run in 1981 when American invitee Mairzy Doates was too good for her opposition. At that time, horses from only a set list of countries were allowed to run in the Japan Cup, but it is now open to all runners good enough to race.
The first two winners were from the US, with Half Iced taking out the Japan Cup in 1982 when holding out French fillies All Along and April Run. Fillies have a great record in the race, which also included 2018 winner Almond Eye.
Almond Eye would smash the race record with a time of 2:20.6. The champion filly was the odds-on favourite to win and breezed past the opposition in the straight.
The Japan Cup has been dominated by Japanese horses since 2006, with no internationally-trained runner winning since 2005 when Alkaased won for Great Britain.
American Triple Crown runners often take part in the Japan Cup, which has included the likes of Orfevre and Fillies Triple Crown winner Gentildonna.
Many champions have won the Japan Cup and household names include Better Loosen Up, Singspiel, Falbrav – the only Italian winner – and Deep Impact.
Japan Cup winners by country
Japan - 22
USA - 4
Great Britain - 4
France - 1
Germany - 1
Italy - 1
Australia - 1
New Zealand - 1
Japan Cup bonus races
If an international runner wins a certain race around the world and then wins the Japan Cup, a bonus of either 80, 32 or 20 million yen is added to the purse.
