Champions Cup (horse race)
The Champions Cup (JPN G-1, formerly the Japan Cup Dirt until 2013) is a thoroughbred horse race contested in Japan in early December. It is run for three-year-olds and older at a distance of 1,800 meters. In recent years, the race has followed the Japan Cup on the Japanese racing calendar. Race information Racecourse: Chukyo Racecourse Distance: 1,800 meters (About 9. furlongs), Dirt, Right-handed Qualification to run: 3-y-o & Up Weight: 3-y-o colts & geldings 55 kg 3-y-o fillies 53 kg 4-y-o & up horses & geldings 57 kg 4-y-o & up mares 55 kg Safety Factor: 16 (There will be a maximum of 8 foreign-trained starters) 2008 changes The race was moved from Tokyo Racecourse to Hanshin Racecourse in 2008. The Japan Cup Dirt had been overshadowed by its turf counterpart (the Japan Cup) in recent years, because turf racing in Japan typically remains more popular and attracts better horses. Attendance for the 2007 Japan Cup Dirt was 56,052, while the attendance for the turf race the following day was 103,545. With the move to Hanshin, the Japan Cup Dirt was shortened from its original distance of 2,100 meters (about furlongs) to 1,800 meters (about 9 furlongs). Now run