Kyōto Kinen

Kyoto Kinen
京都記念

Grade 2 race
Location	Kyoto Racecourse, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Inaugurated	May 17, 1942
Race type	Thoroughbred Flat racing
Website	japanracing.jp/
Race information
Distance	2200 meters
Track	Turf, Right-handed
Qualification	4-y-o & Up, Thoroughbreds
Weight	4-y-o 56kg, 5-y-o & up 57kg filly allowance -2kg
Purse	¥135,440,000 (2010)

The Kyoto KInen (京都記念, Kyouto Kinen) is a Grade II race in Japan that is open to international horses. It is held mid February at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto, Kyoto.

The race was first run in 1942. Then it was not run from 1944 to 1947 as an effect of World War II. The first running was run over 3,500 metres (about 2 miles 1.5 furlongs) and present is run over 2,200 metres (about 11 furlongs).

Kyoto Kinen is rated Grade 2 race since 1984 and was opened for foreign trained horses, although foreign horses have never run the race until now.

It is well-known as the one of popular prep race for Tenno Sho (spring). Takeshiba O, Ten Point, Biwa Hayahide and T M Opera O are good example that won the race and Tenno Sho. Some horses run this race before going to Dubai. In 2007, Admire Moon won this race and also won Dubai Duty Free.

Autumn part

At the inaugural day, "Kyoto Kinen" was held twice a year in spring and autumn, like the Tenno Sho or the Nakayama Daishogai. The autumn part was abolished 1984 when Japanese domestic race grading is started.

Before the autumn part was abolished, some horses could run both races and five horses won them. Especially, Final Score (1954) and Sky Leader (1974) won both races in same year.

List of late winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2000	T M Opera O	4	Ryuji Wada	Ichizo Iwamoto	Masatsugu Takezono	2:13.8
2001	Maquereau	4	Yasuhiko Yasuda	Hiroyoshi Matsuda	Katsumi Yoshida	2:12.3
2002	Narita Top Road	6	Kunihiko Watanabe	Yoshio Oki	Hidenori Yamaji	2:11.8
2003	My Sole Sound	4	Masaru Honda	Katsuichi Nishiura	Kiyoshi Sano	2:16.5
2004	Silk Famous	5	Hirofumi Shii	Ippo Samejima	Silk Co. Ltd.	2:12.8
2005	Narita Century	6	Hirokazu Tajima	Kazuo Fujisawa	Hidenori Yamaji	2:15.7
2006	Six Sense	4	Yutaka Take	Hiroyuki Nagahama	Shadai Race Horse	2:13.5
2007	Admire Moon	4	Yutaka Take	Hiroyoshi Matsuda	Riichi Kondou & Katsumi Yoshida	2:17.2
2008	Admire Aura	4	Katsumi Andou	Hiroyoshi Matsuda	Riichi Kondou	2:13.6
2009	Asakusa Kings	5	Hirofumi Shii	Ryuji Ookubo	Keiko Tahara	2:14.6

External links

• Horse Racing in Japan