The NHK Mile Cup (NHKマイルカップ (NHK Mairu Kappu?)) is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse in May.
The NHK Mile Cup is sponsored by the Japanese public broadcasting organization NHK, and as such, this race is broadcasted not only on Fuji TV (one of NHK's competitors) but on both of the NHK channels that cover horse racing (General TV and BS-hi). (In Japanese horseracing, "Sponsor" doesn't mean the man or organisation provide prize money. They provide only the prize, cup, trophy etc.)
Before the year 2001, it is the only colt and fillies G1 race that non-Japanese bred 4-year(:then) colt and fillies can participate, which made this race considered as the "Japanese Derby for non-Japanese bred horse". After Triple Crown race has been opened for non-Japanese bred horse in 2001. It is considered one of the prep races for both the Yushun Himba (the Japanese Oaks) and the Tokyo Yushun (the Japanese Derby).
Read more about NHK Mile Cup: Step Races, Winners
Famous quotes containing the words mile and/or cup:
“smile
As you find a rhythm
Working you, slow mile by mile,
Into your proper haunt
Somewhere, well out, beyond . . .”
—Seamus Heaney (b. 1939)
“There is not enough exercise in this way of life. I try to make up by active gymnastics before I dress when I get up, by walking rapidly in the lower hall and the greenhouse after each meal for perhaps five to ten minutes, and a good hand rubbing before going to bed. I eat moderately; drink one cup of coffee at breakfast and one cup of tea at lunch and no other stimulant. My health is now, and usually, excellent.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)