What is the Hanshin Stakes?
The Hanshin Stakes Presented by JRA is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Contested at 1 mile on the dirt for horses aged four and older, it is the featured race on closing day of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet and a key mid-summer test for older dirt horses targeting the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The race was inaugurated in 1941 at Arlington Park as the Equipoise Mile, named in honor of Hall of Fame horse Equipoise, one of the greatest racehorses of the early 20th century. Following Arlington Park's closure in 2021, the race was relocated to Churchill Downs in 2022 and renamed the Hanshin Stakes in recognition of the longstanding partnership between Churchill Downs and Japan's Hanshin Racecourse, home to some of the most prestigious races in Japanese racing. The race is sponsored by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and upgraded to Grade III status in 2026 by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. The race has a sister event — the Churchill Downs Cup — held annually at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, fostering one of the most unique international racing partnerships in the sport.
When is the Hanshin Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Hanshin Stakes Presented by JRA is scheduled for Sunday, June 28 at Churchill Downs as the featured race on closing day of the Spring Meet. Contested at 1 mile on the dirt with a purse of $300,000, the race draws the top older dirt milers in the country targeting the summer and fall championship circuit.
Hanshin Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Hanshin Stakes has produced a string of talented dirt milers since its move to Churchill Downs in 2022. Will Take It gave trainer Dallas Stewart a 2025 victory in a neck battle over Banishing, the four-year-old Tapit daughter recording her third career stakes win all at Churchill Downs having previously won the Regret Stakes (GIII) and the Old Forester Mint Julep (GIII). Cagliostro gave trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Flavien Prat a breakthrough 2024 stakes win, pressing the pace three-wide before drawing clear to win in 1:34.87. Zozos gave trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux a gate-to-wire 2023 victory at Ellis Park in the race's only edition outside Churchill Downs, then went on to compete in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Champion older male Cody's Wish won the 2022 Churchill Downs debut of the race in 1:34.10 under Junior Alvarado for trainer Bill Mott, the fan-favorite adding another signature victory to his remarkable career.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Will Take It | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 1:34.10 |
| 2024 | Cagliostro | Flavien Prat | 1:34.87 |
| 2023 | Zozos | Florent Geroux | 1:35.73* |
| 2022 | Cody's Wish | Junior Alvarado | 1:34.10 |
| 2021 | Guest Suite | Emmanuel Esquivel | 1:35.31** |
* Run at Ellis Park. ** Run at Arlington Park (last running before track closure).
The Hanshin Stakes Presented by JRA is the signature event of Churchill Downs closing day and a tribute to one of the most celebrated international racing partnerships in the sport.
