Champions Cup (horse race)
The Champions Cup is a thoroughbred horse race contested in Japan in early December. It is run for three-year-olds and older at a distance of 1,800 meters. In recent years, the race has followed the Japan Cup on the Japanese racing calendar.
Race Information
- Racecourse: Chukyo Racecourse
- Distance: 1,800 meters, Dirt, Right-handed
- Qualification to run: 3-y-o & Up
- Weight: 3-y-o colts & geldings 55 kg
- 3-y-o fillies 53 kg
- 4-y-o & up horses & geldings 57 kg
- 4-y-o & up mares 55 kg
- Safety Factor: 16
2008 Changes
With the move to Hanshin, the Japan Cup Dirt was shortened from its original distance of 2,100 meters to 1,800 meters. Now run one week after the Japan Cup, the Japan Cup Dirt shares the weekend with the "World Super Jockeys Series" featuring jockeys from around the world.
2014 Changes
The Japan Cup Dirt was moved to Chukyo Racecourse in 2014 and renamed the Champions Cup. According to the Japan Racing Association, the decision to make changes to the race was because of a lack of international participation. The new Champions Cup race will be run left-handed, as opposed to the right turns run since the race moved from Tokyo to Hanshin in 2008. The purse of the race will be reduced to ¥94 million - compared to ¥130 million for the 2013 running - and it will no longer be an invitational race. The 2014 running is scheduled for Sunday, December 7.Purse
Total JPN ¥277,900,000- 1st JPN ¥130,000,000
- 2nd JPN ¥52,000,000
- 3rd JPN ¥33,000,000
- 4th JPN ¥20,000,000
- 5th JPN ¥13,000,000
| Preparatory Event to Japan Cup Dirt | Qualification | Japan Cup Bonus |
| Dubai World Cup Breeders' Cup Classic Kentucky Derby | Current Year Winner | Winner:100,000,000 1st runner-up:40,000,000 2nd runner-up:25,000,000 |
| Dubai World Cup Breeders' Cup Classic Kentucky Derby | Current Year Runner-Up | Winner:40,000,000 1st runner-up:16,000,000 2nd runner-up:10,000,000 |
| Santa Anita Handicap Metropolitan Handicap Stephen Foster Handicap Hollywood Gold Cup Whitney Handicap Pacific Classic Stakes Jockey Club Gold Cup Woodward Stakes Preakness Stakes Belmont Stakes Travers Stakes | Current Year Winner | Winner:70,000,000 1st runner-up:28,000,000 2nd runner-up:18,000,000 |
Winners
- 2000, 2001, 2003–2007: Tokyo Racecourse, 2,100 meters, counter-clockwise
- 2002: Nakayama Racecourse, 1,800 meters, clockwise
- 2008–2013: Hanshin Racecourse, 1,800 meters, clockwise
- 2014–present : Chukyo Racecourse, 1,800 meters, counter-clockwise