Hanshin Cup Stakes
The Hanshin Cup Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Arlington Park racetrack in the Arlington Heights suburb of Chicago, Illinois. A Grade III event open to horses three years of age and older, it is contested on Polytrack over a distance of 8 furlongs and currently offers a purse of $100,000.
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Arlington Park Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1941 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & Up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $100,000 (2015) |
The race was inaugurated in 1941 as the Equipoise Mile in honor of the great colt Equipoise. It was raced under that name from 1941 through 1963 and in 1966 and 1967. In 1964 and 1965 it was raced as the Equipoise Handicap then from 1968 through 1997.
The race was hosted by the Washington Park Race Track from 1943 through 1945. It was run in two divisions in 1945.
The race was not run from 1970 through 1978 and in 1988. It was on hiatus again in 1998 and 1999 but returned as the Hanshin Cup Handicap in 2000.
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Swoon's Son won back-to-back runnings of this race in 1957-58. In 1967, the race saw the last racecourse appearance of the 1965 United States Horse of the Year Moccasin.
Due to the unpredictability of the race, it has been said many times on Hanshin Cup Day, “Anything can happen in the Hanshin”.
Past winners
- 2019 - Lanier (Declan Cannon)
- 2018 - Matrooh (Santo Sanjur)
- 2017 - Crewman (Carlos Marquez, Jr.)
- 2016 - Trace Creek (Julio E. Felix)
- 2015 - Midnight Cello (Florent Geroux)
- 2014 - Nikki's Sandcastle (Leandro R. Goncalves)
- 2013 - Hogy (Christopher A. Emigh)
- 2012 - Havelock (Florent Geroux)
- 2011 - Workin for Hops (James Graham)
- 2010 - Country Flavor (Inez Karlsson)
- 2009 - Vacation (John Velazquez)
- 2008 - Coragil Cat (Diego Sanchez)
- 2007 - Spotsgone (Earlie Fires)
- 2006 - Gouldings Green (Corey Lanerie)
- 2005 - Lord of the Game (Eusebio Razo, Jr.)
- 2004 - Crafty Shaw (Craig Perret)
- 2003 - Apt to Be (Eusebio Razo, Jr.)
- 2002 - Bonapaw (Gerard Melancon)
- 2001 - Bright Valour (Robby Albarado)
- 2000 - Bright Valour (Jesse Campbell)
- 1999 - No Race
- 1998 - No race
- 1997 - Announce
- 1996 - Golden Gear
- 1995 - Tarzan's Blase
- 1994 - Slerp
- 1993 - Split Run
- 1992 - Katahaula County
- 1967 - Renewed Vigor (Martinez Heath)