Tennō Shō


The Tennō Shō is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. Tennō refers to the emperor of Japan. The races are both International Grade 1 races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tennō Shō races were Japanese domestic Grade 1 races.

Spring

The Spring Tennō Shō is held at Kyoto Racecourse, in late April or early May. It is run over a distance of, making it the longest Grade 1 race in Japan.
Deep Impact won the 2006 version of the race setting the world record for a 3,200-metre race with a time of 3:13.4, beating the World Record set in the 1988 Wellington Cup by Daria’s Fun, held for almost 20 years of 3:15.59, the closest time run in the Melbourne Cup is 3:16.3. Deep Impact's record stood until Kitasan Black won in 3:12.5 in 2017. The average time for the Tennō Shō rom 1990 to 2018 is 3:16.7, while the same for the Melbourne Cup is 3:21.1, a difference of 4.4 seconds. In the race's history only one mare has won; Leda, in 1953.

Winners since 1990

The 1994 race was contested at Hanshin Racecourse.

The 2021 and 2022 races were contested at Hanshin Racecourse, due to construction at Kyoto Racecourse.

Earlier winners

  • 1938 - Hase Park
  • 1939 - Sugenuma
  • 1940 - Toki no Chikara
  • 1941 - Marutake
  • 1942 - Minami Mor
  • 1943 - Grand Lite
  • 1944 - Hiro Sakura
  • 1945 - No race
  • 1946 - No race
  • 1947 - Olite
  • 1948 - Cyma
  • 1949 - Miharu O
  • 1950 - Owens
  • 1951 - Takakura Yama
  • 1952 - Mitsuhata
  • 1953 - Leda
  • 1954 - Hakuryou
  • 1955 - Taka O
  • 1956 - Meiji Hikari
  • 1957 - Kitano O
  • 1958 - Onward There
  • 1959 - Tosa O
  • 1960 - Kuripero
  • 1961 - Yamanin More
  • 1962 - Onslaught
  • 1963 - Korehisa
  • 1964 - Hikaru Pola
  • 1965 - Asahoko
  • 1966 - Hakuzuikou
  • 1967 - Speed Symboli
  • 1968 - Hikarutakai
  • 1969 - Takeshiba O
  • 1970 - Riki Eikan
  • 1971 - Mejiro Musashi
  • 1972 - Bell Wide
  • 1973 - Tai Tehm
  • 1974 - Take Hope
  • 1975 - Ichifuji Isami
  • 1976 - Erimo George
  • 1977 - Ten Point
  • 1978 - Green Grass
  • 1979 - Kashuu Chikara
  • 1980 - Nichidou Taro
  • 1981 - Katsurano Haiseiko
  • 1982 - Monte Prince
  • 1983 – Amber Shadai
  • 1984 – Monte Fast
  • 1985 - Symboli Rudolf
  • 1986 - Kushiro King
  • 1987 - Miho Shinzan
  • 1988 - Tamamo Cross
  • 1989 - Inari One

Autumn

The Autumn Tennō Shō is held at Tokyo Racecourse, in late October. It is run over a distance of. It is considered the first leg of the Japanese Autumn Triple Crown.
Originally, the Autumn Tennō Shō was run over a distance of, but was shortened to its current distance to promote middle-distance horses and to promote 3-year-old horses as a shorter-distance alternative to the Kikuka Sho, the Japanese St. Leger, which is. The current record holder for this race is Equinox who set up a time of 1:55.2 in 2023, beating previous record holder Tosen Jordan by point nine seconds.

Winners since 1990

Earlier winners

Source:
  • 1937 – Happy Might
  • 1938 - Hisatomo
  • 1939 - Tetsumon
  • 1940 – Rocky Mor
  • 1941 - Estates
  • 1942 - Nipatois
  • 1943 - Kuri Hikari
  • 1944 - No race
  • 1945 - No race
  • 1946 - No race
  • 1947 - Toyo Ume
  • 1948 - Katsu Fuji
  • 1949 - Newford
  • 1950 - Yashima Daughter
  • 1951 - Hatakaze
  • 1952 - Track O
  • 1953 - Queen Narubi
  • 1954 - Opal Orchid
  • 1955 - Dainana Hoshu
  • 1956 - Midfarm
  • 1957 - Hakuchikara
  • 1958 - Cellulose
  • 1959 - Garnet
  • 1960 - Ote Mon
  • 1961 - Takamagahara
  • 1962 - Kurihide
  • 1963 - Ryu Forel
  • 1964 - Yamato Kyodai
  • 1965 - Shinzan
  • 1966 - Korehide
  • 1967 - Kabuto Ciro
  • 1968 - Knit Eight
  • 1969 - Mejiro Taiyo
  • 1970 - Mejiro Asama
  • 1971 - Tomei
  • 1972 - Yamanin Wave
  • 1973 - Tani no Chikara
  • 1974 - Kami no Tesio
  • 1975 - Fujino Parthia
  • 1976 - Eyeful
  • 1977 - Hokuto Boy
  • 1978 - Tenmei
  • 1979 - Three Giants
  • 1980 - Pretty Cast
  • 1981 - Hoyo Boy
  • 1982 - Mejiro Titan
  • 1983 - Kyoei Promise
  • 1984 - Mr. C. B.
  • 1985 - Gallop Dyna
  • 1986 - Sakura Yutaka O
  • 1987 - Nippo Teio
  • 1988 - Tamamo Cross
  • 1989 - Super Creek

Multiple winners

Prior to 1980, a horse winning a Tennō Shō race was not allowed to participate in future editions of the race but this ban was lifted in 1981. Only two horses won the prize three times:
Apart from Kitasan Black and T. M. Opera O, four horses to date have won consecutive runnings, either by winning both the Spring and Autumn races in the same year or by winning the Autumn race, and following year's Spring race.
Five horses have won two non-consecutive runnings.