New Year, New Champions: Japan's 2026 Racing Season Kicks Off with Thrilling Golden Cup Victories!
As the new year begins, the 2026 horse racing season has made a spectacular start. Across both central and regional racing circuits, new star horses are emerging in graded races, and joyful news of 'first graded race victories' is being reported one after another. Karamatianos Triumphs in Thrilling Nakayama Kinpai The first central graded race of the new year held at Nakayama Racecourse, the Nakayama Kinpai (GIII), saw Karamatianos defy his 7th favorite odds to secure a dramatic victory. Partnered with jockey Akihide Tsumura, the horse won a fierce contest against the 1st favorite, Angora Black, by a mere 2 centimeters (a nose margin) at the finish line, marking his long-awaited first graded race win. This victory by the son of Rey de Oro was deeply moving for those involved, and jockey Tsumura expressed his ambition: 'Next time, I want to win the Kinpai on my birthday.' Grandia, the 4th favorite, finished in third place. Kyoto Kinpai Sees Major Upset as Buena Onda Cla...