Tennō Shō (Spring)

The Tennō Shō (Spring) (天皇賞（春）; lit. 'Emperor Prize (Spring)') is an International Grade I horse race held at Kyoto Racecourse, Japan in late April or early May. It is run over a distance of 3,200 metres (10,500 ft) on turf, and is the longest Grade 1 race in Japan.^[2]

ClassInt'l Grade 1

LocationKyoto Racecourse, Kyoto

InauguratedMay 15, 1938

Race typeThoroughbred

Quick facts Class, Location ...

Tennō Shō (Spring)

Justin Palace winning the 167th Tennō Shō
Class	Int'l Grade 1
Location	Kyoto Racecourse, Kyoto
Inaugurated	May 15, 1938
Race type	Thoroughbred
Website	japanracing.jp
Race information
Distance	3200 meters (About 16 furlongs / 2 miles)
Surface	Turf
Track	Right-handed
Qualification	4-y-o & Up, Thoroughbreds
Weight	58 kg Allowances: 2 kg for fillies and mares
Purse	¥ 648,000,000 (as of 2025) 1st: ¥ 300,000,000 2nd: ¥ 120,000,000 3rd: ¥ 75,000,000
Bonuses	Winner of the following in the same year: Ōsaka Hai, Tennō Shō (Spring), Takarazuka Kinen[1] Domestic: ¥ 300,000,000 International: ¥ 150,000,000 Winner of any three of the following in the same year: Ōsaka Hai, Tennō Shō (Spring/Autumn), Japan Cup, Takarazuka Kinen, Arima Kinen Domestic: ¥ 200,000,000 International: ¥ 100,000,000

Close

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.^[3][4] Deep Impact's record stood until Kitasan Black won in 3:12.5 in 2017. The average time for the Tennō Shō from 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.^[5]