Kyoto Kimpai

The Kyoto Kimpai is a Grade III Thoroughbred handicap race in Japan, open to horses aged four years and older.^[2] It is held annually on January 5 (or January 6 if the 5th falls on a Friday) at Kyoto Racecourse over a distance of 1,600 meters on turf (outer course).^[2] Eligible entrants must have raced at least once and cannot be unraced or maiden horses.^[2] The field includes JRA-trained horses, up to two certified NAR (local) horses, and foreign-trained horses with priority entry.^[2] As a handicap race, weights are assigned based on each horse’s past performance.^[1] The first-place prize in 2026 is ¥43 million.^[2]

The race is officially titled the “Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai”, sponsored by Sports Nippon newspaper, and the winner receives the Sports Nippon Newspaper Prize.^[3]

The Kyoto Kimpai traces its origins to the “Geishun Sho (迎春賞)”, first run on January 3, 1963, for horses aged five and older over 2,000 meters on turf at Kyoto Racecourse.^[2] In 1966, it was renamed “Kin Hai (金盃)”, and in 1970, the spelling was updated to “Kimpai (金杯)”.^[2] From 1966 to 1995, it shared its name with the Nakayama Kimpai (run at Nakayama Racecourse), together forming Japan’s traditional New Year’s Day graded stakes doubleheader.^[4] To distinguish the two, the Kyoto version was officially renamed “Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai” in 1996.^[5] Weight conditions shifted over time: it began as a handicap, switched to weight-for-age (別定) from 1966 to 1980, then reverted to handicap in 1981, where it has remained ever since.^[6] A transformation occurred in 2000, when the distance was shortened from 2,000m to 1,600m, repositioning the race as a key early-season test for milers rather than stayers.^[7]

The race was designated Grade III in 1984 under JRA’s grading system.^[2] International participation expanded gradually: foreign-bred horses were allowed from 1993, foreign-trained horses from 2006 (initially 4 runners, later 8 in 2007 and 9 in 2015), and NAR horses from 2020.^[8] Due to Kyoto Racecourse renovations, the race was temporarily relocated to Chukyo Racecourse from 2021 to 2023 and again in 2025.^[2]

Like its Nakayama counterpart, it is affectionately known by the fan saying: “Ichinen no kei wa Kinpai ni ari” (“The year’s plan lies in the Kimpai”).^[9]

^a The 2020, 2021 and 2022 runnings took place at Chukyo while Kyoto was closed for redevelopment.
^b The 2025 runnings took place at Chukyo while Hanshin was closed for redevelopment.

• Horse racing in Japan
• List of Japanese flat horse races