Tokyo Derby Explained

Class:Domestic Grade I
(JpnI)
Horse Race:Tokyo Derby
Location:Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa, Tokyo
Inaugurated:May 15, 1955
Race Type:Thoroughbred Flat racing
Distance:2,000 meters (About 10 furlongs)
Surface:Dirt
Track:Right-handed
Qualification:3-y-o no geldings
Weight:57 kg
Allowance: Fillies 2 kg
Purse:¥170,000,000 (as of 2024)
1st: ¥ 100,000,000

2nd: ¥ 35,000,000

3rd: ¥ 20,000,000

The Tokyo Derby (東京ダービー) is a Japanese thoroughbred horse race on dirt for three-year-olds. It is graded as a Domestic Grade I. It is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs) at Oi Racecourse in the Shinagawa, Tokyo in June.

History

It was first held in 1955, at that time named Haru-no-Kura, meaning 'The Race of Spring race meeting', with a distance of 2000 meters. In 1964, its name was changed to Tokyo Metropolis Derby. In 1966, its name was changed to Tokyo Derby.

Its distance has been changed three times. From 1955 to 1966, it was 2000 meters long, from 1967 to 1998, 2400 meters and after 1999, 2000 meters. Horses belonging to south kanto horseracing can run.

Until 2023, this race was the second leg of the South Kanto (Minami-Kanto) triple crown with Haneda Hai and Japan Dirt Derby and only horses belonging to Minami-Kanto Horseracing can run.

Dirt Grade Promotion

On 2024, this race was promoted to Domestic Grade 1 (Jpn1) along with Haneda Hai.[1] Formerly the second leg of the South Kanto (Minami-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 JRA horses and 12 NAR horses.[3]

Trial races

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

!Race!Grade!Racecourse!Distance!Condition
Haneda HaiJpnIOi1,800 metersTop 3 of the best that placed 1st to 5th that belongs to JRATop 3 that belongs to NAR regardless of placing
Crown CupSIIIKawasaki1,600 metersWinner
Unicorn StakesGIIIKyoto1,900 metersWinner and/or runner-up that belongs to JRATop finisher that belongs to NAR regardless of placing
Tokyo Wan CupSIIFunabashi1,700 metersWinner
Tokyo Derby TrialSpecialOi2,000 metersWinner
Diamond CupM1Morioka1,800 metersWinner
Nishi Nihon ClassicMajor Prize ISonoda1,870 metersWinner
Notes:

Winners since 2001

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Organization
Time
2001Toshin BlizzardTakayuki IshizakiKenji SatoEiichi WaizumiFunabashi2:07.5
2002King SaviourShinobu SakaiHitoshi YagiToshihiko KisoKawasaki2:08.0
2003Nike a DelightTakayuki IshizakiRyuichi DegawaSumi OnoFunabashi2:08.9
2004Adjudi MitsuoTakashi SatoMasayuki KawashimaMasao OridoFunabashi2:05.2
2005Sea ChariotHiroyuki UchidaMasayuki KawashimaDarley Japan Farm Co. Ltd.Funabashi2:05.3
2006B B TornadoNaoki MachidaEichi TakeiBando FarmKawasaki2:07.5
2007AmpersandKeita TosakiTakashi IkedaYasuaki DateKawasaki2:05.0
2008Dream SkyKeita TosakiKatsuyoshi UchidaDream TurfKawasaki2:06.5
2009Silent SutamenMasahiko KanekoKatsuhisa AdachiShunji MiyazawaKawasaki2:06.7
2010Makani BistyKeita TosakiMakoto MatsuuraToshiko BizenjimaOi2:06.7
2011Clave SecretaKeita TosakiMasayuki KawashimaSunday Racing Co. Ltd.Funabashi2:06.5
2012PretiolasKouta MotohashiJunpei MorishitaYasuaki DateOi2:06.8
2013Inside the ParkSeiji SakaiMasato HayashiYusuke YamaguchiFunabashi2:07.2
2014Happy SprintHiroto YoshiharaJyunpei MorishitaTsuji FarmOi2:05.9
2015Lucky PrinceTadanari KonnoSatoshi KokuboMasatada KunidaUrawa2:07.5
2016BaldassareHiroto YoshiharaKeiji NakamichiYasuaki DateOi2:06.9
2017Higashi Will WinTaito MoriKenji SatoMMC Co. Ltd.Funabashi2:06.9
2018Haseno PyroTakayuki YanoKenji SatoKazuhiko MaitaFunabashi2:06.7
2019Hikari OsoSeiji YamazakiHiroshi IwamotoTsuru NishimoriKawasaki2:09.4
2020Aime LimiteTatsuya YamaguchiMasato HayashiTamori Co. Ltd.Funabashi2:06.9
2021Alain BarowsSeiji SakaiMasato HayashiHirotsugu InokumaFunabashi2:06.6
2022KileKota MotohashiSatoshi KokuboTakaya ShimakawaUrawa2:07.1
2023Mick FireNorifumi MikamotoKazuo WatanabeKoichi HoshikaOi2:04.8
Triple Crown of Dirt Series
2024RamjetKousei MiuraShozo SasakiKoji MaedaJRA2:06.1

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024年(令和6年) 開催日程及び重賞競走日程について. nankankeiba.com. 14 November 2023.
  2. Web site: 3歳ダート三冠競走を中心とした2・3歳馬競走の体系整備について、地方競馬情報サイト上に掲載しました。詳細はこちら. Twitter.com. 4 July 2022.
  3. Web site: 3歳ダート三冠競走等における地方所属馬の出走馬選定方法. TCK. 12 June 2023.
  4. Web site: 東京ダービー . Netkeiba.