View source for Japanese Classic Races

{{Short description|Set of horse races in Japan}}
{{Expand Japanese|date=September 2023}}{{other uses|Classics (disambiguation)}}
In [[horse racing]] in [[Japan]], '''The Classics''' are a series of horse races run over the flat. Each classic is run once each year and is restricted to intact horses that are three years old (i.e., excluding [[gelding]]s). The five races are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Race
!Date
!Distance
!Course
!First Run
!Qualification
|-
|[[Oka Sho]]
|April
|1,600 metre
|[[Hanshin Racecourse|Hanshin]]
|1939
|Three-year-old fillies
|-
|[[Satsuki Sho]]
|April
|2,000 metre
|[[Nakayama Racecourse|Nakayama]]
|1939
|Three-year-olds 
|-
|[[Yushun Himba]]
|May
|2,400 metre
|[[Tokyo Racecourse|Tokyo]]
|1938
|Three-year-old fillies
|-
|[[Tokyo Yushun]]
|May / June
|2,400 metre
|[[Tokyo Racecourse|Tokyo]]
|1932
|Three-year-olds 
|-
|[[Kikka Sho]]
|October
|3,000 metre
|[[Kyoto Racecourse|Kyoto]]
|1938
|Three-year-olds 
|-
|}

== Triple crown for male horse ==
In the past, won [[Satsuki Sho]], [[Tokyo Yushun|Japan Derby]] and [[Kikuka Sho]] triple crown title male horse in Japan. 
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
* [[St Lite]] (1941)
* [[Shinzan]] (1964)
* [[Mr C B]] (1983)
* [[Symboli Rudolf]] (1984)
{{col-2}}
* [[Narita Brian]] (1994)
* [[Deep Impact (horse)|Deep Impact]] (2005)
* [[Orfevre]] (2011)
* [[Contrail (horse)|Contrail]] (2020)
{{col-end}}
{{multiple image
 |align = left
 |alt1      = 
 |image1    = StLite2.JPG
 |caption1  = St Lite (1941)
 |alt2      = 
 |image2   = Deep Impact Japanese Derby.jpg
 |caption2 = Deep Impact (2005)
 |alt3     = 
 |image3    = Orfevre20110424.jpg
 |caption3  = Orfevre (2011)
 |alt4     = 
 |image4    = Contrail_2019_hopeful_stakes_honbaba_nyujyou.jpg
 |caption4  = Contrail (2020)
}}
{{-}}

== Triple crown for female horse ==
In the past, won [[Oka Sho]], [[Yushun Himba|Japan Oaks]] and [[Shuka Sho]] (from 1996) (Not a classic race, but included in the Triple Crown)([[Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Japan)|Queen Elizabeth II Cup]], from 1976 to 1995; [[Victoria Cup (Japan)|Victoria Cup]], from 1970 to 1975) triple crown title female horse in Japan. 
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Mejiro Ramonu]] (1986)
* [[Still in Love (horse)|Still in Love]] (2003)
* [[Apapane (horse)|Apapane]] (2010)
{{col-2}}
* [[Gentildonna]] (2012)
* [[Almond Eye]] (2018)
* [[Daring Tact]] (2020)
* [[Liberty Island (horse)|Liberty Island]] (2023)
{{col-end}}

== See also ==
* [[British Classic Races]]
* [[American Classic Races]]
* [[French Classic Races]]

[[Category:Horse races in Japan]]
{{horseracing-race-stub}}
{{Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing}}