250px|thumb|Miho Shinzan (Tanikawa Bokujō Kiyohata Jigyōsho, in Hidaka Town, Hokkaido)
Shinzan (シンザン; 2 April 1961 – 13 July 1996) was a thoroughbred racehorse that won the Japanese Triple Crown. He is known for being only the second horse in Japanese racing history to do so. He was called "sharp as a hatchet" during his career, and continues to be referred to as a "divine horse."
Background
Shinzan was a bay horse bred by Yoshimatsu Matsuhashi, and was foaled in Urakawa, Hokkaido on April 2, 1961.
Racing career
Shinzan was generally considered to be the best Japanese racehorse of the post-war era and became the first horse to win all 5 contemporary big titles of Japan. He became the second horse to win the Japanese Triple Crown and was named Japanese Horse of the Year in 1964. Shinzan won the Arima Kinen, Takarazuka Kinen and Tenno Sho (Autumn) as a four-year-old, defending his Horse of the Year title. He became the subject of an ad campaign after his career, with the catchphrase "Surpass Shinzan" being coined in the decades before another horse, Mr. C. B., finally won the Triple Crown again.
Two-year-old season (1963)
Shinzan took part in his maiden race in November, 1963, a week later than originally planned because he would have competed against another colt of Hindostan, , who was highly anticipated at the time; Shinzan's trainer, Takeda, believed Shinzan wouldn't stand a chance against him.
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 80%; width: 100%; text-align: center;"
!Date
!Course
!Race
!Distance (Condition)
!Field
!Bracket
!Bib
!Odds (Favorite)
!Finish
!Time
!Distance (lengths)
!Jockey
!Weight (kg)
!Winner (2nd Place)
|- style="background-color:white"
| colspan="13" align="left" |1963 – two-year-old season
|-
|
|Kyoto
|3yo Newcomer
|1200m (Firm)
|14
|3
|3
|1.9 (No. 1)
|
| 1:13.9
|4
|Masaru Kurita
|51
|(Hoshitsuki)
|-
|
|Hanshin
|Open
|1400m (Good)
|5
|1
|1
|3.0 (No. 2)
|
| 1:25.7
|2 1/2
|M. Kurita
|51
|(Ableman)
|-
|
|Hanshin
|3yo Chukyori Tokubetsu
|1600m (Good)
|8
|7
|7
|2.5 (No. 1)
|
| 1:40.0
|4
|M. Kurita
|55
|(Okurayama)
|- style="background-color:white"
| colspan="13" align="left" |1964 – three-year-old season
|-
|
|Kyoto
|Open
|1600m (Firm)
|5
|5
|5
|1.3 (No. 1)
|
| 1:42.3
|2
|M. Kurita
|53
|(Hanabishi)
|-
|
|Tokyo
|Spring Stakes
|1800m (Firm)
|14
|3
|3
| 14.1 (No. 6)
|
| 1:51.3
|1/2
|M. Kurita
|55
|(Yamanin Sweeper)
|-
|
|Tokyo
|Satsuki Shō
|2000m (Firm)
|25
|2
|6
|3.6 (No. 1)
|
| 2:04.1
|3/4
|M. Kurita
|57
|(Asuka)
|-
|
|Tokyo
|Open
|1800m (Firm)
|12
|3
|3
|1.7 (No. 1)
|
| 1:50.8
|0.1 s
|M. Kurita
|57
|Yamanin Shiro
|-
|
|Tokyo
|Tōkyō Yūshun
|2400m (Firm)
|27
|4
|10
|2.7 (No. 1)
|
| 2:28.8
|1 1/4
|M. Kurita
|57
|(Umeno Chikara)
|-
|
|Hanshin
|Open
|1800m (Firm)
|12
|6
|8
|1.5 (No. 1)
|
| 1:51.6
|0.1 s
|M. Kurita
|60
|Ichimikado
|-
|
|Kyoto
|Keisei Hai
|1800m (Firm)
|6
|3
|3
|2.3 (No. 1)
|
| 1:52.1
|0.2 s
|M. Kurita
|60
|Ballymoss Nisei
|-
|
|Kyoto
|Kikuka-shō
|3000m (Good)
|12
|2
|2
|3.2 (No. 2)
|
| 3:13.8
|2 1/2
|M. Kurita
|57
|(Umeno Chikara)
|- style="background-color:white"
| colspan="13" align="left" |1965 – four-year-old season
|-
|
|Hanshin
|Open
|1600m (Good)
|7
|1
|1
|2.5 (No. 1)
|
| 1:37.7
|4
|Hiroshi Takeda
|59
|(Yamahiro)
|-
|
|Hanshin
|Open
|1850m (Firm)
|6
|2
|2
|1.3 (No. 1)
|
| 1:53.7
|1 1/2
|H. Takeda
|59
|(Yamahiro)
|-
|
|Hanshin
|Takarazuka Kinen
|2000m (Soft)
|6
|5
|5
|1.7 (No. 1)
|
| 2:06.3
|1/2
|M. Kurita
|59
|(Ballymoss Nisei)
|-
|
|Hanshin
|Open
|1850m (Firm)
|10
|8
|10
|2.3 (No. 2)
|
| 1:54.0
|Head
|H. Takeda
|57
|(Hikaru Pola)
|-
|
|Tokyo
|Meguro Kinen (Autumn)
|2500m (Good)
|11
|6
|6
|3.2 (No. 1)
|
| 2:42.2
|1/2
|M. Kurita
|63
|(Bull Takachiho)
|-
|
|Tokyo
|Tennō Shō (Autumn)
|3200m (Firm)
|12
|7
|9
|1.3 (No. 1)
|
| 3:22.7
|2
|M. Kurita
|58
|(Haku Zuiko)
|-
|
|Nakayama
|Open
|2000m (Firm)
|5
|3
|3
|1.5 (No. 1)
|
| 2:05.5
|0.2 s
|H. Takeda
|60
|Kuridei
|-
|
|Nakayama
|Arima Kinen
|2600m (Good)
|8
|4
|4
|1.4 (No. 1)
|
| 2:47.2
|1 3/4
|Yoshito Matsumoto
|56
|(Miharukasu)
|}Race names in bold are part of the Eight Big Races (the eight races considered most important before the introduction of the grading system)
Awards
thumb|Shinzan statue at [[Kyoto Racecourse]]
- 1964 Horse of the Year and Best Three-year-old Colt (Keishu Award)
- 1965 Horse of the Year and Best Older Colt or Horse (Keishu Award)
- 1984 JRA Hall of Fame horse
(Keishu Award is current JRA Award.)
Sire line tree
- Shinzan<!--b. 1961-->
- <!--b. 1982-->
- <!--b. 1990-->
- Silk Selection<!--b. 1998-->
- My Power<!--b. 1999-->
- Mighty Shinzan<!--b. 2003-->