Tenno Sho

The Tennō Shō (天皇賞) is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade I races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Grade I races.

Spring
The Spring Tenno Sho is held at Kyoto Racecourse, in late April or early May. It is run over a distance of 3200 m, making it the longest Grade I race in Japan.

Deep Impact won the 2006 version of the race setting the world record for a 3200 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. Deep Impact's record stood until Kitasan Black won in 3:12.5 in 2017. The average time 1990-2018 of the Tenno Sho is 3:16.7, the Melbourne Cup 3:21.1, a difference of 4.4 seconds.

Winners since 1990
The 1994 race was contested at Hanshin Racecourse.

The 2021 and 2022 races were contested at Hanshin Racecourse, due to construction at Kyoto Racecourse.

Earlier winners

 * 1938 - Hase Park
 * 1939 - Sugenuma
 * 1940 - Toki no Chikara
 * 1941 - Marutake
 * 1942 - Minami Mor
 * 1943 - Grand Lite
 * 1944 - Hiro Sakura
 * 1945 - No race
 * 1946 - No race
 * 1947 - Olite
 * 1948 - Cyma
 * 1949 - Miharu O
 * 1950 - Owens
 * 1951 - Takakura Yama
 * 1952 - Mitsuhata
 * 1953 - Leda
 * 1954 - Hakuryou
 * 1955 - Taka O
 * 1956 - Meiji Hikari
 * 1957 - Kitano O
 * 1958 - Onward There
 * 1959 - Tosa O
 * 1960 - Kuripero
 * 1961 - Yamanin More
 * 1962 - Onslaught
 * 1963 - Korehisa
 * 1964 - Hikaru Pola
 * 1965 - Asahoko
 * 1966 - Hakuzuikou
 * 1967 - Speed Symboli
 * 1968 - Hikarutakai
 * 1969 - Takeshiba O
 * 1970 - Riki Eikan
 * 1971 - Mejiro Musashi
 * 1972 - Bell Wide
 * 1973 - Tai Tehm
 * 1974 - Take Hope
 * 1975 - Ichifuji Isami
 * 1976 - Erimo George
 * 1977 - Ten Point
 * 1978 - Green Grass
 * 1979 - Kashuu Chikara
 * 1980 - Nichidou Taro
 * 1981 - Katsura no Haiseiko
 * 1982 - Monte Prince
 * 1983 – Amber Shadai
 * 1984 – Monte Fast
 * 1985 - Symboli Rudolf
 * 1986 - Kushiro King
 * 1987 - Miho Shinzan
 * 1988 - Tamamo Cross
 * 1989 - Inari One

Autumn
The Autumn Tenno Sho is held at Tokyo Racecourse, in late October. It is run over a distance of 2000 m. It is considered the first leg of the Japanese Autumn Triple Crown (the other two are the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen).

Originally, the Autumn Tenno Sho was run over a distance of 3200 m, but was shortened to its current distance to promote middle-distance horses and to promote 3-year-old horses as a shorter-distance alternative to the Kikuka Sho, the Japanese St. Leger, which is 3000 m.

Winners since 1990

 * Mejiro McQueen finished first in 1991 but was demoted to last place following a Stewards' Inquiry. @ The 2002 Autumn Tennō Shō was contested at Nakayama Racecourse, due to construction at Tokyo Racecourse. # Also Japanese record of flat racing for oldest horse winning first G1 race.

Earlier winners

 * 1937 – Happy Might
 * 1938 - Hisatomo
 * 1939 - Tetsumon
 * 1940 – Rocky Mor
 * 1941 - Estates
 * 1942 - Ni Patois
 * 1943 - Kuri Hikari
 * 1944 - No race
 * 1945 - No race
 * 1946 - No race
 * 1947 - Toyo Ume
 * 1948 - Katsu Fuji
 * 1949 - Newford
 * 1950 - Yashima Daughter
 * 1951 - Hatakaze
 * 1952 - Track O
 * 1953 - Queen Narubi
 * 1954 - Opal Orchid
 * 1955 - Dainana Hoshu
 * 1956 - Midfarm
 * 1957 - Hakuchikara
 * 1958 - Cellulose
 * 1959 - Garnet
 * 1960 - Ote Mon
 * 1961 - Takamagahara
 * 1962 - Kurihide
 * 1963 - Ryu Forel
 * 1964 - Yamato Kyodai
 * 1965 - Shinzan
 * 1966 - Korehide
 * 1967 - Kabuto Ciro
 * 1968 - Knit Eight
 * 1969 - Mejiro Taiyo
 * 1970 - Mejiro Asama
 * 1971 - Tomei
 * 1972 - Yamanin Wave
 * 1973 - Tani no Chikara
 * 1974 - Kami no Tesio
 * 1975 - Fujino Parthia
 * 1976 - Eyeful
 * 1977 - Hokuto Boy
 * 1978 - Tenmei
 * 1979 - Three Giants
 * 1980 - Pretty Cast
 * 1981 - Hoyo Boy
 * 1982 - Mejiro Titan
 * 1983 - Kyoei Promise
 * 1984 - Mr. C.B.
 * 1985 - Gallop Dyna
 * 1986 - Sakura Yutaka O
 * 1987 - Nippo Teio
 * 1988 - Tamamo Cross
 * 1989 - Super Creek

Multiple winners
Prior to 1980, a horse winning a Tennō Shō races was not allowed to participate in future editions of the race but this ban was lifted in 1981. Only two horses won the prize three times:
 * Kitasan Black (2016 Spring, 2017 Spring and Autumn)
 * T M Opera O (2000 Spring and Autumn, 2001 Spring)

Apart from Kitasan Black and T M Opera O, four horses to date have won consecutive runnings, either by winning both the Spring and Autumn races in the same year or by winning the Autumn race, and following year's Spring race.
 * Tamamo Cross (1988 Spring, Autumn)
 * Super Creek (1989 Autumn, 1990 Spring)
 * Special Week (1999 Spring, Autumn)
 * Meisho Samson (2007 Spring and Autumn)

Five horses have won two non-consecutive runnings.
 * Mejiro McQueen (1991, 1992 Spring, finished 1st in 1991 Autumn but demoted to last)
 * Rice Shower (1993, 1995 Spring)
 * Symboli Kris S (2002, 2003 Autumn)
 * Fenomeno (2013, 2014 Spring)
 * Fierement (2019, 2020 Spring)
 * Almond Eye (2019, 2020 Autumn)
 * Equinox (2022, 2023 Autumn)