Racing TV shows Japan Cup live in the UK and Ireland for first time

Racing TV has shown the Japan Cup live in the UK and Ireland for the first time.

The 43rd running of the race, which took place on Sunday 26 November, carried Japan’s biggest prize – JPY500 million (c. £2.7 million) goes to the race winner, which this year was Equinox (pictured), a four-year-old colt who has topped the world rankings since the spring.

Dr Kanichi Kusano, general manager of the Japan Racing Association (JRA) London office, said: “We are pleased that the Japan Cup, the feature race of Japanese horse racing, was broadcast live on Racing TV on Sunday 26 November.

“We look forward to welcoming the best from the UK and Ireland in future editions of the Japan Cup, which are sure to grow even further in quality, as will the experience for the travelling horses, following the opening of our new international stable in 2022.”

Martin Stevenson, CEO of Racecourse Media Group, parent company of Racing TV, said: “The British and Japanese horseracing industries have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship and we are delighted to extend the ties further by bringing the Japan Cup – one of the great races of the international calendar – to our audience in UK and Ireland.”

The Japan Cup programme was broadcast from 6am to 7am (GMT) and was presented by Nick Luck and former Japan-based jockey Fran Berry.