The is an internationally listed, Domestic Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a distance of 2,000 meters (approximately 1 mile 2 furlongs) at the Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa, Tokyo in early October. It is the third and final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown of Dirt.
The race was first run in 1999 as the Japan Dirt Derby and was the Japanese equivalent of the American Kentucky Derby. Though the race was the last leg of triple crown of minami-kanto keiba (nankan keiba), while Kentucky Derby is the first one of American triple crown races.
The majority of winners comes from the Japan Racing Association (JRA), another Japan horse racing governing body, as JRA do not host any dirt Grade 1 race exclusively for 3-year-old horses.
In June 2022, it was announced that from 2024 that it would become the third leg of the Japanese Triple Crown of Dirt along with Haneda Hai and Tokyo Derby. The name of the race was changed to Japan Dirt Classic and the schedule was moved from July to October. Geldings will no longer be able to enter and prize money for 1st place was increased to ÃÂ¥ 70,000,000.
Trial races provide automatic berths to the winning horses or placed horses as specified.