| Domestic Grade I (JpnI) race | |
.jpg) 2020 Kawasaki Kinen winner, Chuwa Wizard | |
| Location | Kawasaki Racecourse, Kawasaki, Kanagawa |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1951 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,100 meters (About 10and1/2 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | 4-y-o & Up |
| Weight | 4-y-o horses & geldings 56kg/mares 54kg/5-y-o & up horses & geldings 57kg / mares 55 kg |
| Purse | ¥136,000,000 (as of 2023) 1st: ¥ 80,000,000 2nd: ¥ 28,000,000 3rd: ¥ 16,000,000 |
The Kawasaki Kinen (Kawasaki Memorial) (川崎記念) is a Japanese thoroughbred horse race on dirt track for horses aged four years or older. It was graded as a domestic grade 1 race in 1998. It is held in January, so it is the first (domestic) grade 1 race in Japanese horseracing season. Its name "Kawasaki" comes from that of the racecourse, Kawasaki Racecourse, which in turn is named after the city that it is situated in; Kawasaki city in Kanagawa prefecture.
This race was regarded as preparation for the Dubai World Cup, along with the February Stakes. Although some past winners (such as Smart Falcon and Vermilion) ran the Dubai World Cup after winning this race, only Ushba Tesoro won both the Kawasaki Kinen and the Dubai World Cup.
Starting from 2024, the race will no longer be held in January but rather in April, losing the race's status as a prep race for the Dubai World Cup.[1]