Arima Kinen


The Arima Kinen is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds three-years-old and above and the world's largest betting horserace. It is run on the fourth Sunday of December each year, over a distance of 2,500 metres at Nakayama Racecourse. It is one of the two "All-Star" races in Japanese horse racing; the other is the Takarazuka Kinen in late June.
The event was first run in 1956, and was initially titled the Nakayama Grand Prix. The following year it was renamed in memory of Yoriyasu Arima, the founder of the race. The distance was originally set at 2,600 metres, and shortened to the present length, 2,500 metres, in 1966.
The majority of the runners in the field are selected by a vote from racing fans, which must be a Japan Racing Association horse. If any horse among the top 10 decided not to participate in the race, the void will be filled with next available horse until 10 available runners are filled. The remainder of 6 are determined by the amount of prize money won.
Until 1999 the Arima Kinen was open to Japanese trained horses only. However, the Japan Racing Association introduced a new condition in 2000 which allowed for the participation of a foreign trained horse, if it had won that year's Japan Cup. The Arima Kinen was classed as a Domestic Grade I until 2006. It was then promoted to an International Grade I in 2007. Consequently, it is now possible for more foreign trained horses to compete in the race. The maximum number of these was set at four in 2007, and increased to six for the 2008 running.

Records

Speed record:
Multiple winners:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
  • 4 – Yasutoshi Ikee
Most wins by an owner:
  • 7 – Sunday Racing The youngest winning jockey: Yutaka Take The oldest winning jockey: Yutaka Take

Vote leaders since 1984

In 2004 vote, Zenno Rob Roy was estimated to have received fewer votes than Cosmo Bulk. However, as Cosmo Bulk was not a Japan Racing Association horse all votes cast for him were invalid.
Vodka was not allowed to participate in the 2009 race, as she was on a 1-month suspension due to nose bleeding in the Japan Cup.

Earlier winners

  • 1956 - Meiji Hikari
  • 1957 - Hakuchikara
  • 1958 - Onward There
  • 1959 - Garnet
  • 1960 - Star Roch
  • 1961 - Homareboshi
  • 1962 - Onslaught
  • 1963 - Ryu Forel
  • 1964 - Yamato Kyodai
  • 1965 - Shinzan
  • 1966 - Korehide
  • 1967 - Kabuto Ciro
  • 1968 - Ryuzuki
  • 1969 - Speed Symboli
  • 1970 - Speed Symboli
  • 1971 - Tomei
  • 1972 - Ishino Hikaru
  • 1973 - Strong Eight
  • 1974 - Tanino Chikara
  • 1975 - Ishino Arashi
  • 1976 - Tosho Boy
  • 1977 - Ten Point
  • 1978 - Kane Minobu

In popular culture

The TBS Television TV Series revolves around the main characters aiming to win the Arima Kinen with a horse from Hidaka.
In addition, a number of the races have been portrayed in Umamusume: Pretty Derby in anime and manga by the personifications of the horses who participated in them:
  • The 1988 race, which was Tamamo Cross' retirement race and Oguri Cap's first and only win against Tamamo Cross, is portrayed in Cinderella Gray, which portrays Oguri Cap's racing career, in both manga and "Gray Phantom," the 22nd episode of Season 1 of its anime. The Nakayama Racecourse Horse Owners' Association also invited Umamusume's voice actresses for Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross and Super Creek to attend the 2025 race coinciding with the airing of "Gray Phantom", and the three also participated in the award ceremony.
  • The 1990 race – Oguri Cap's retirement race – is also the final race of the Cinderella Gray manga.
  • The 1993 race, which was Tokai Teio's comeback and ultimately final race after a year injured, is portrayed in "Galloping After Our Dreams," the finale of the second season of the main Umamusume: Pretty Derby anime. The scene also incorporates the actual words of the broadcast call.
  • The 2015 race, which was Gold Ship's retirement race, is portrayed in "The Dream Never Ends", the 3rd episode of Season 3 of the main anime.
  • The 2016 race, which featured Satono Diamond winning the race and Kitasan Black coming in second, is portrayed in "Our Arima Kinen", the 7th episode of the same season.
  • The 2017 race, which was Kitasan Black's retirement race, is portrayed in "And Yours...", the 13th episode of the same season.