Track Notes
Course Summary
Right-handed inner sprint with only about 243m before Corner 3, creating immediate traffic pressure. The middle phase runs downhill, but the 356m final straight ends with Hanshin’s sharp 1.9m uphill climb, making Power and Guts essential.
Fun Facts
• Hosts the Centaur Stakes, a key autumn Sprinters Stakes prep.
• The race name connects to the bronze Centaur statue near Hanshin's grandstands.
• From 2005 to 2010, the Centaur Stakes was part of the Global Sprint Challenge series. It was later replaced as Japan's leg of the series by the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
• The modern 1200m setup was standardized after Hanshin's 2006 renovation.
• The race name connects to the bronze Centaur statue near Hanshin's grandstands.
• From 2005 to 2010, the Centaur Stakes was part of the Global Sprint Challenge series. It was later replaced as Japan's leg of the series by the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
• The modern 1200m setup was standardized after Hanshin's 2006 renovation.
