NAR Announces Dirt Triple Crown Set to Premiere in 2024

The National Association for Racing, the authority of regional racing in Japan, announced the upcoming Dirt Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, which is set to launch in 2024. The Haneda Hai (G1), an 1,800-meter event typically held in April or May, will be the first leg of the series, followed by the 2,000-meter Tokyo Derby (G1) in June. Both races will be held at Oi Racecourse and are open to 3-year-old colts and fillies. There will be an increase in the purses for both races, with the total purse of the Haneda Hai going from ¥59,500,000 (US$439,864) in 2022 to ¥85,000,000 ($628,378) in 2024. The Tokyo Derby will see an increase from ¥85,000,000 to ¥170,000,000 ($1,256,756). The winner of the Tokyo Derby will receive ¥100,000,000 ($739,268), the first nine-digit purse for the NAR. Making up the third leg of the Dirt Triple Crown is the Japan Dirt Derby (G1) run over 2,000 meters at Oi Racecourse in July. As the final race in the series, it will be moved to October. JRA-trained horses will be eligible to compete. The total purse for the Japan Dirt Derby increases from ¥102,000,000 ($754,053) in 2022 to ¥119,000,000 ($879,729) in 2024. After the completion of the series in 2024, the race will be renamed, which is yet to be announced. There will be a bonus of ¥80,000,000 ($591,414) awarded to a Triple Crown winner. As more valuable dirt races for 3-year-olds are introduced, Japanese breeders could expand their investments on mares and young horses with American dirt pedigrees.