Tokyo Derby (horse race)

The Tokyo Derby (東京ダービー) is a Japanese Domestic Grade 1 flat race for three year old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs) on dirt at Ohi Racecourse in Shinagawa, Tokyo in June.

Tokyo Derby
東京ダービー
2024 Tokyo Derby winner, Ramjet
ClassDomestic Grade 1 (JpnI)
International Listed
LocationOhi Racecourse
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Inaugurated15 May 1955 (71 years ago) (1955-05-15)
Race typeThoroughbred
Race information
Distance2,000 meters
(About 10 furlongs or 1+14 miles)
SurfaceDirt
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-years-old no geldings
Weight57 kg
Allowances
2 kg for fillies
2 kg for S. Hemisphere
Purse¥ 170,000,000 (as of 2026)
1st:  ¥ 100,000,000
2nd: ¥ 35,000,000
3rd: ¥ 20,000,000
BonusesTriple Crown of Dirt Series
Winner of Haneda Hai, Tokyo Derby and Japan Dirt Classic
¥ 80,000,000

History

edit

It was first held in 1955, at that time named Haru-no-Kura (春の鞍), meaning 'The Race of Spring race meeting', over a distance of 2000 meters. Its name was changed to Tokyo Metropolis Derby in 1964 and to Tokyo Derby in 1966.

Its distance has been changed three times. From 1955 to 1966, it was run at 2000 meters , then changed to 2400 meters from 1967 to 1998 and since 1999, it will be run at 2000 meters.

Until 2023, this race was the second leg of the South Kanto (南関東; Minami-Kantō) Triple Crown with Haneda Hai and Japan Dirt Derby and only horses belonging to South Kanto Horseracing could run.

Dirt Grade Promotion

edit

The race was promoted to Domestic Grade 1 along with Haneda Hai in 2024.[1] Formerly the second leg of the South Kanto Triple Crown, it is now the second leg of new Japanese Triple Crown of Dirt.[2] Entries were expanded to 16 horses with 4 horses belonging to Japan Racing Association.[3]

Trial races

edit

Trial races provide automatic berths to the winning horses or placed horses as specified.[3]

Race Name Class Racecourse Distance Condition
Crown Cup SIII Kawasaki 1,600 meters Winner
Haneda Hai JpnI Ohi 1,800 meters Three horses that belong to JRA who placed 5th or better.
Top 3 horses that belong to NAR regardless of placing.
Unicorn Stakes GIII Japan Kyoto 1,900 meters Horse(s) that belong to JRA who placed 2nd or better.
Top finished horse that belong to NAR regardless of placing.
Tokyo Wan Cup SII Funabashi 1,700 meters Winner

Races listed below does not provide automatic berths, but still important steps for this race.

Race Name Class Racecourse Distance Condition
Nishi Nihon Classic 重賞I Sonoda 1,870 meters Winner
Diamond Cup M1 Morioka 1,800 meters
Tokyo Derby Challenge OP Ohi 2,000 meters

Winners since 1999

edit
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
1999  Orion the Thanks (JPN)  Shuji Hayata (JPN) Japan Kiyomatsu Akama (OHI)  Keiko Hiura (JPN) 2:07.7
2000  Hinode Luster (JPN)  Takaharu Kuwajima (JPN) Japan Katsumi Degawa (FUN)  Horseman Hinode Co., Ltd. (JPN) 2:06.9
2001  Toshin Blizzard (JPN)  Takayuki Ishizaki (JPN) Japan Kenji Sato (FUN)  Hironobu Inagaki (JPN) 2:07.5
2002  King Saviour (JPN)  Shinobu Sakai (JPN) Japan Hitoshi Yagi (KAW)  Toshihiko Kiso (JPN) 2:08.0
2003  Nike a Delight (JPN)  Takayuki Ishizaki (JPN) Japan Ryuichi Degawa (FUN)  Sumi Ono (JPN) 2:08.9
2004  Adjudi Mitsuo (JPN)  Takashi Sato (JPN) Japan Masayuki Kawashima (FUN)  Masao Orido (JPN) 2:05.2
2005  Sea Chariot (USA)  Hiroyuki Uchida (JPN) Japan Masayuki Kawashima (FUN)  Darley Japan Racing (JPN) 2:05.3
2006  B. B. Tornado (JPN)  Naoki Machida (JPN) Japan Eiichi Takei (KAW)  Bando Bokujo (JPN) 2:07.5
2007  Ampersand (JPN)  Keita Tosaki (JPN) Japan Takashi Ikeda (KAW)  Hidekazu Date (JPN) 2:05.0
2008  Dream Sky (JPN)  Keita Tosaki (JPN) Japan Katsuyoshi Uchida (KAW)  Dream Turf Co., Ltd. (JPN) 2:06.5
2009  Silent Sutamen (JPN)  Masahiko Kaneko (JPN) Japan Katsuhisa Adachi (KAW)  Shizuo Miyazawa (JPN) 2:06.7
2010  Makani Bisty (JPN)  Keita Tosaki (JPN) Japan Makoto Matsuura (OHI)  Toshiko Bizenjima (JPN) 2:06.7
2011  Clave Secreta (JPN)  Keita Tosaki (JPN) Japan Masayuki Kawashima (FUN)  Sunday Racing (JPN) 2:06.5
2012  Pretiolas (JPN)  Kota Motohashi (JPN) Japan Junpei Morishita (OHI)  Yasuaki Date (JPN) 2:06.8
2013  Inside the Park (JPN)  Seiji Sakai (JPN) Japan Masato Hayashi (FUN)  Yusuke Yamaguchi (JPN) 2:07.2
2014  Happy Sprint (JPN)  Hiroto Yoshihara (JPN) Japan Junpei Morishita (OHI)  Tsuji Bokujo (JPN) 2:05.9
2015  Lucky Prince (JPN)  Tadanari Konno (JPN) Japan Satoshi Kokubo (URA)  Masatada Kunida (JPN) 2:07.5
2016  Baldassare (JPN)  Hiroto Yoshihara (JPN) Japan Keiji Nakamichi (OHI)  Toshiaki Date (JPN) 2:06.9
2017  Higashi Will Win (JPN)  Taito Mori (JPN) Japan Kenji Sato (FUN)  MMC Co., Ltd. (JPN) 2:06.9
2018  Haseno Pyro (JPN)  Takayuki Yano (JPN) Japan Kenji Sato (FUN)  Fumio Hasegawa (JPN) 2:06.7
2019  Hikari Oso (JPN)  Seiji Yamazaki (JPN) Japan Hiroshi Iwamoto (KAW)  Tsuru Nishimori (JPN) 2:09.4
2020  Aime Limite (JPN)  Tatsuya Yamaguchi (JPN) Japan Masato Hayashi (FUN)  Taisei Co., Ltd. (JPN) 2:06.9
2021  Alain Barows (JPN)  Seiji Sakai (JPN) Japan Masato Hayashi (FUN)  Hirotsugu Inokuma (JPN) 2:06.6
2022  Kile (JPN)  Kota Motohashi (JPN) Japan Satoshi Kokubo (URA)  Takaya Shimakawa (JPN) 2:07.1
2023  Mick Fire (JPN)  Norifumi Mikamoto (JPN) Japan Kazuo Watanabe (OHI)  Koichi Hoshika (JPN) 2:04.8
Triple Crown of Dirt Series
2024  Ramjet (JPN)  Kosei Miura (JPN) Japan Shozo Sasaki (JRA)  Koji Maeda (JPN) 2:06.1
2025  Natural Rise (JPN)  Takeshi Yokoyama (JPN) Japan Keizo Ito (JRA)  Hiroyuki Yoshioka (JPN) 2:03.8
2026  Finger (JPN)  Keita Tosaki (JPN) Japan Hiroyasu Tanaka (JRA)  M's Racing (JPN) 2:04.4

Earlier winners

edit
  • 1955 – Royal Leather (Lady Fortune)
  • 1956 – Otone
  • 1957 – Hatsuyuki
  • 1958 – Daini Kotobuki
  • 1959 – Seisho
  • 1960 – Daisan Kotobuki
  • 1961 – Yaguchi Hope
  • 1962 – Cell Call
  • 1963 – Shinnitsukei
  • 1964 – Pearl Mountain
  • 1965 – Higashi Yuri
  • 1966 – Shin O
  • 1967 – Hikaru Takai
  • 1968 – Wealth Diver
  • 1969 – Yamano Taiyo
  • 1970 – Ryu Tokitsu
  • 1971 – Fuji Prince
  • 1972 – Tokiwa Taiyo
  • 1973 – Yokozan
  • 1974 – Daiei Mond
  • 1975 – Golden Ribot
  • 1976 – Rocky Line
  • 1977 – Sanko Mond
  • 1978 – Hatsushiba O
  • 1979 – Soul Chateau
  • 1980 – Takafuji Minoru
  • 1981 – Suzuyu
  • 1982 – Daishin Shirayuki
  • 1983 – San Oi
  • 1984 – King Haiseiko
  • 1985 – Mill Koji
  • 1986 – Hanaki O
  • 1987 – George Rex
  • 1988 – Windmill
  • 1989 – Rosita
  • 1990 – Outrun Seiko
  • 1991 – Apollo Pink
  • 1992 – Grade Shori
  • 1993 – Pleasant
  • 1994 – Kanesho Gold
  • 1995 – George Taisei
  • 1996 – Saint Rick
  • 1997 – Surprise Power
  • 1998 – Atomic Thunder

See also

edit

References

edit