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LEGENDSOF JAPANESE RACING

THE ARCHIVE — RACECOURSES

TenRacecourses

Architecture, landscape and history.

  1. 01
    The main stand of Tokyo Racecourse on Japan Cup day

    Tokyo

    東京競馬場「府中」

    Kanto — Tokyo · Left-handed · Opened 8 November 1933

    Home of the Japanese Derby, the Japan Cup and the autumn Tenno Sho — its long home straight has staged countless great finishes.

  2. 02
    The grandstand and lawn at Nakayama Racecourse

    Nakayama

    中山競馬場

    Kanto — Chiba · Right-handed · Opened 1907

    Stage of the Arima Kinen and the Satsuki Sho, and one of Japan’s four major racecourses.

  3. 03
    The new grandstand at Kyoto Racecourse

    Kyoto

    京都競馬場「淀」

    Kansai — Kyoto · Right-handed · Opened 1 December 1925 (current site)

    Home of the Kikuka Sho and the spring Tenno Sho — known as “Yodo” after its nearest station.

  4. 04
    A view of Hanshin Racecourse

    Hanshin

    阪神競馬場「仁川」

    Kansai — Hyogo · Right-handed

    Stage of the Takarazuka Kinen and the Oka Sho, also called “Nigawa” after its station.

  5. 05
    The main stand at Chukyo Racecourse

    Chukyo

    中京競馬場

    Tokai — Aichi · Left-handed · Opened 1953

    The only one of the JRA’s ten racecourses owned and managed by a separate company, Nagoya Horse Racing Co.

  6. 06
    The paddock at Sapporo Racecourse

    Sapporo

    札幌競馬場

    Hokkaido — Sapporo · Right-handed · Opened 1907

    The summer stage in Hokkaido, home of the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen.

  7. 07
    The main stand at Hakodate Racecourse

    Hakodate

    函館競馬場

    Hokkaido — Hakodate · Right-handed · Opened 1896

    Opened in 1896; its grandstand was rebuilt in 2008–09 and reopened in June 2010.

  8. 08
    Fukushima Racecourse and the city seen from Mount Shinobu

    Fukushima

    福島競馬場

    Tohoku — Fukushima · Right-handed · Opened 1918

    The smallest of the JRA’s racecourses, renewed in 1997.

  9. 09
    The grandstand at Niigata Racecourse

    Niigata

    新潟競馬場

    Hokuriku — Niigata · Left-handed (formerly right-handed) · Opened 10 July 1965 (current site)

    On its current site since 1965 — a course that changed from right-handed to left-handed.

  10. 10
    The Japanese garden at Kokura Racecourse

    Kokura

    小倉競馬場

    Kyushu — Fukuoka · Right-handed

    The JRA racecourse in Kitakyushu, with a Japanese garden inside its grounds.