Arima Kinen

The Arima Kinen (有馬記念) is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above and the world's largest betting horserace. It is run over a distance of 2,500 metres (approximately 1 mile and $4 1/2$ furlongs) at Nakayama Racecourse, and it takes place annually in late December. It is one of the two "All-Star" races in Japanese horse racing; the other is the Takarazuka Kinen in late June.

The event was first run in 1956, and it was initially titled the Nakayama Grand Prix (中山グランプリ). The following year it was renamed in memory of Yoriyasu Arima (1884–1957), the founder of the race. The distance was originally set at 2,600 metres, and it was shortened to the present length, 2,500 metres, in 1966.

The majority of the runners (10 out of 16) in the field are selected by a vote from racing fans, which must be a Japan Racing Association horse. If at least one horse in top 10 decided not to participate in the race, the void will be filled with next available horse until 10 available runners are filled. The remainder of 6 (including National Association of Racing (NAR) and foreign-based horses) are determined by the amount of prize money won.

Until 1999 the Arima Kinen was open to Japanese trained horses only. However, the Japan Racing Association introduced a new condition in 2000 which allowed for the participation of a foreign trained horse, if it had won that year's Japan Cup (although no such eligible horse has participated in this race). The Arima Kinen was classed as a Domestic Grade I until 2006, and it was then promoted to an International Grade I in 2007. Consequently, it is now possible for more foreign trained horses to compete in the race. The maximum number of these was set at four in 2007, and this increased to six for the 2008 running.

Records
Speed record:
 * 2:29.5 – Zenno Rob Roy (2004)

Most wins:
 * 2 – Speed Symboli (1969, 1970)
 * 2 – Symboli Rudolf (1984, 1985)
 * 2 – Oguri Cap (1988, 1990)
 * 2 – Grass Wonder (1998, 1999)
 * 2 – Symboli Kris S (2002, 2003)
 * 2 - Orfevre (2011, 2013)

Most wins by a jockey:
 * 4 - Kenichi Ikezoe (2009, 2011, 2013, 2018)
 * 4 - Yutaka Take (1990, 2006, 2017, 2023)

Vote leaders since 1984
In 2004 vote, Zenno Rob Roy was estimated to have received fewer votes than Cosmo Bulk (Deduced from the official result of Internet vote). However, as Cosmo Bulk was not a Japan Racing Association horse (but belonged to Hokkaido Keiba from NAR) all votes cast for him were invalid. Vodka was not allowed to participate in the 2009 race, as she was on a 1-month suspension due to nose bleeding in the Japan Cup.

Earlier winners

 * 1956 - Meiji Hikari
 * 1957 - Hakuchikara
 * 1958 - Onward There
 * 1959 - Garnet
 * 1960 - Star Roch
 * 1961 - Homareboshi
 * 1962 - Onslaught
 * 1963 - Ryu Forel
 * 1964 - Yamato Kyodai
 * 1965 - Shinzan
 * 1966 - Korehide
 * 1967 - Kabuto Ciro
 * 1968 - Ryuzuki
 * 1969 - Speed Symboli
 * 1970 - Speed Symboli
 * 1971 - Tomei
 * 1972 - Ishino Hikaru
 * 1973 - Strong Eight
 * 1974 - Tanino Chikara
 * 1975 - Ishino Arashi
 * 1976 - Tosho Boy
 * 1977 - Ten Point
 * 1978 - Kane Minobu
 * 1979 - Green Grass
 * 1980 - Hoyo Boy
 * 1981 - Amber Shadai
 * 1982 - Hikari Duel
 * 1983 - Lead Hoyu