Centaur Stakes
The 25th (2011) Centaur Stakes | |
| Class | Grade 2 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hanshin Racecourse |
| Inaugurated | 1987 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Website | japanracing.jp - Centaur Stakes & Sprinters Stakes |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1200 meters (About 6 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed (inner course) |
| Qualification | 3-y-o & Up, Thoroughbreds |
| Weight | Special Weight |
| Purse | ¥ 128,140,000 (as of 2024) 1st: ¥ 59,000,000 2nd: ¥ 24,000,000 3rd: ¥ 15,000,000 |
The Centaur Stakes (セントウルステークス, Sentouru Sutekusu) is a Grade 2 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) at Hanshin Racecourse in September.
It was first run in 1987 and takes its name from a statue at the racecourse in the form of centaur, a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse.
Prior to 2000 the race was run over a distance of 1,400 metres (7 furlongs), and having originally been classed as a Domestic Grade 3 race, it was promoted to Domestic Grade 2 status in 2006 and it was promoted to International Grade 2 status in 2007.
From 2005 to 2010 it was a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge series. It has now been replaced as a Japanese leg of the series by the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.