The prestigious $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic took place at Del Mar on November 1st, witnessing history unfold as Forever Young achieved a groundbreaking victory. This marked the first time a Japanese-bred and trained horse claimed the top spot in North America’s most lucrative race, edging out the 2024 Classic champion, Sierra Leone, by a narrow half-length.
The Breeders’ Cup stands as a prominent international horse racing event held within the U.S., drawing together competitors from various nations. Looking ahead to Sunday, November 30th, Japan is set to host its own international showcase, the Japan Cup, at the esteemed Tokyo Racecourse. This event holds a significant place on Japan’s racing calendar, mirroring the importance of the Breeders’ Cup in the U.S. America’s Best Racing will be present to provide coverage of the race and the encompassing festivities. Here’s a look at what you should know about the Japan Cup:
The race:
The Japan Cup unfolds on a turf course spanning 2,400 meters, approximately 1 ½ miles. Its purse rivals that of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, boasting around 1.09 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $7.2 million.
Established in 1981 by the Japan Racing Association, the Japan Cup predates the inaugural Breeders’ Cup event by three years. It was conceived to foster international competition, with invitations extended to victors of esteemed races across the globe. The first champion hailed from the U.S.: Mairzy Doates, a mare with stakes victories in both New York and California, ridden by jockey Cash Asmussen, older brother of renowned North American trainer Steve Asmussen.
Runners from foreign nations dominated the early years, claiming nine of the first 11 Japan Cups. However, the balance between Japanese and international winners shifted in the 1990s. By the mid-2000s, horses from the home country gained prominence. No international horse has taken home the Japan Cup since 2005 – Japanese horses have achieved 19 consecutive wins!
The runners:
In recent years, participation from foreign shippers in the Japan Cup has been limited, a trend expected to continue in 2025. Nevertheless, the sole overseas contender anticipated to compete might very well emerge as the race favorite: Calandagan, a top-tier European horse.
Calandagan enters the Japan Cup following three consecutive Group 1 triumphs in England and France, and was recently honored as Cartier Horse of the Year – recognizing Europe’s best racehorse for 2025. Two of Calandagan’s Group 1 victories render him eligible for a $3 million bonus should he secure victory in the Japan Cup, in addition to the first-place prize of roughly $3.3 million. This incentive program is offered by the Japan Racing Association in an attempt to attract a broader field of international competitors.
With one exception, all entrants for this year’s Japan Cup were bred in the host country – that exception is French-bred Shin Emperor. The colt has primarily raced in Japan with some international starts. He is owned and trained by the same team that manages Forever Young – owner Susumu Fujita and trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Shin Emperor finished in a dead heat for second in last year’s Japan Cup with Durezza, both just a neck behind the winner. These horses are both projected to start Sunday.
The track:
Tokyo Racecourse holds a similar position to Churchill Downs in Japan. Located in Tokyo’s western suburbs and easily accessible by public transportation, the venue opened its doors in 1933. Alongside the Japan Cup, Tokyo Racecourse also hosts the Tokyo Yushun, also known as the Japanese Derby, and numerous other internationally recognized races.
It features state-of-the-art facilities, including turf, dirt, and jumps (steeplechase) courses, along with a video screen spanning around 8,000-square feet. The track is considered family-friendly, complete with a Kid’s Garden section within the infield, featuring rides, shows, and a playground. Nearly 80,000 fans were in attendance at last year’s Japan Cup, but that is well below the listed capacity of 223,000. The record crowd for a Japan Cup was 187,524 set in 1995.
The weekend:
The entire weekend at Tokyo Racecourse, anchored by the Japan Cup, stands as one of Japan’s most highly anticipated and captivating sporting events. On Saturday, November 29th, the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve commences at Tokyo with a qualifying race. The Cattleya Stakes, run on dirt, grants qualifying points for the 2026 Derby at Churchill Downs to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale. The most successful horse to win the Cattleya and then compete in the U.S. was 2015 champion Lani, who achieved ninth place in the 2016 Derby, fifth in the Preakness Stakes, and then secured third in the Belmont Stakes.
Other significant races are included on the schedule, and with an estimated crowd of 75,000-80,000, the atmosphere is set to be lively.
Where to watch:
Viewers in the U.S. can watch the Japan Cup live on FanDuel TV. The Japan Cup has a post time of approximately 3:40 p.m. local time, which is 14 hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone (1:40 a.m. Sunday) and 17 hours ahead of the U.S. Pacific time zone (10:40 p.m. Saturday).
How to follow:
As noted, America’s Best Racing will be present at Tokyo Racecourse, as well as filming around the track to capture popular attractions for visiting fans. A team will arrive on Thursday, November 27th, with the goal of providing U.S. fans with engaging and entertaining content highlighting the excitement of horse racing in Japan and the passion of its fan base.
Stay tuned to America’s Best Racing’s TikTok and Instagram accounts for comprehensive coverage, and videos will be published on our Facebook and X accounts.
Prepare to partake in a captivating and memorable 2025 Japan Cup!
