February 2009 Vol. 17 No. 1 2 ～ 4 4 5 6 6 ～ 7 Attractiveness and Leading 2008 JRA Awards NAR Grand Prix A Review of JRA fun of JRA New Stallions 2008 Racing & Breeding in horseracing from for 2009 Japan for 2008 the foreigners’ point of view 8 2008 JRA Leading Horses Japanese Principal Race Results JRA Kyoto Race Course ets depending on their barrier draw, and For those who enjoy a bet and love the of printing) not only gets you to and Kyoto Racecourse is located in between Attractiveness and fun of the “bracket quinella” has always been thrill of cheering their horse home, or from the track, but includes an English Kyoto (with all those temples and ryo- popular in Japan (it is easier to pick a for those who would like a good day out speaking guide, reserved seats in the kans) and Osaka, the food capital of winner, as there are only 8 “chances,” in “real Japan” with thousands of locals impressive grandstand, and entry into Japan, and a very different culture of JRA horseracing from but the dividends will on average be creating a spectacle for you, a visit to the racing museum on site at Tokyo race- that in Tokyo. Or depending on where lower). Be careful when you have a the JRA races may be just what you course. the races are on when you are here, you bracket quinella though, because if you were looking for. You can search for the “JRA Official could visit the Hanshin Racecourse, lo- the foreigners’ point of view choose 1 & 2, you do not win if the 1st For those who are interested, but are Tour” at cated between Osaka and Kobe – famous and 2nd horses both come from the same a bit worried about trying to get through http://japanracing.jp/tour/index.html for for its international background as one bracket! a day on their own, the JRA has intro- more details. of Japan’s major ports. In any case, with By Michael Tabart Kyoto Racecourse featuring a beautiful Kinkakuji that represents the old city Kyoto. Win and place betting is also available duced a special tour to Tokyo Race- For the more adventurous, or for those the number of racecourses located pond in the infield. in Japan, but it is almost never the biggest course which is ideal for first time pa- visitors with more time in Japan, why around the country, if you are in Japan scribed them as “more sand than dirt.” information in English. However, the pool. In saying that, one thing you almost trons visiting from overseas. The rea- not combine a trip to the races when over the weekend, you can have a great The times on dirt are much slower than official racing program does have some never have to worry about when betting sonably priced tour (9800 yen at the time travelling to the ancient capital of Kyoto? time at the races! Racing fans worldwide would have on turf, but that can change when the English in it and JRA is gradually in- on Japanese races is that your bet will to be aware of the increasing presence track is wet. It is easier to run on wet creasing instruments and publications change the odds of your selection. Even of Japanese trained horses on the inter- sand than it is on dry sand! written in English, such as an ‘Overlay’ from early morning races, the pools in national racing scene. However, it is The other unique aspect of Japanese for betting cards and a ‘How to bet’ pam- Japan are so big, that you will almost very likely that few have experienced racing is the knowledge that Japanese phlet. never change the odds - unless you are the Japan Racing Association (JRA) fans have of their horses. As there are The best way for anyone to approach betting very significant amounts! The racing in Japan. usually only 72 or less races a week, and a trip to the races in Japan (unless you JRA has gradually introduced more and The JRA has 10 racecourses around as the whole Japanese racing set up is are the adventurous type who would like more types of betting into Japan, so that Japan, from Sapporo and Hakodate on extremely well managed by the JRA, to test your luck in Japanese!) is to check now it is also possible to have exactas Leading New Stallions for 2009 the northern island of Hokkaido, to the racing fans in Japan have access to all the English homepage named “Horse (picking 1st and 2nd in order), trios (1st, Kokura Racecourse on the southern sorts of information from training times, Racing in Japan” (http://japanracing.jp/) 2nd and 3rd in any order), and trifectas By Masayuki Itoh, The Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association (JBBA) island of Kyushu. to dates of spelling, and even changes by the JRA and JAIR before heading (1st, 2nd and 3rd in correct order) if you Racing takes place every Saturday in each horse’s body weight. This culture out to the track. Visitors to Japan can want to try and hit that big return, or if The beginning of a new year in the survey based on the advance reports for time, Arrow Stud (Shin-hidakacho), and Sunday of the calendar year of information and knowledge is encour- find all sorts of information about Jap- you feel confident about the order of breeding areas, is the most tension-filled new stallions in Japan scheduled to make Yushun Stallion Station (Niikappucho) (although depending on the dates, there aged in every facet of the racing game, anese racing at the homepage, including horses in a race with only a small field. time of the year for matching the deter- their debut in 2009. and Shadai Stallion Station (Abiracho) can be a break over the New Year with the JRA even ensuring that before information on where the races will be Once you have mastered the art of mination with the preparations for the This survey shows that there are 17 have plans to introduce three of the stal- every race, punters have ample oppor- held, how to read the race program and betting in Japan (betting - not necessar- upcoming breeding season. New stallions new stallions in Japan as of the 14th of lions. tunity to inspect the horses in the mount- form guides and most importantly, how ily winning!), and once you begin to coming to stud are a special cause of January. Three of these were newly im- We have compiled a table of informa- ing yard (or “paddock” as it is called in to bet! pick up more and more information, you growing concern, and conversely, expec- ported (two bred in U.S. and one in tion about new stallions for 2009, which Mt. Fuji that can be seen from Tokyo Racecourse. Japan), and then watch the horses they There are three cards that are used to begin to understand that Japanese racing tations, for the new season. France). 14 of the stallions had raced in includes their pedigrees and where they appear in the main race of the day – are interested in make their way around bet at the races in Japan and although is a fascinating sport. With huge stands The JBBA Breeding Information De- Japan. are slated to stand. Four of the stallions Race 11. Races 9 through 12 are usually to the gates with plenty of time to spare they are well designed and very useful at every racecourse, you are guaranteed partment carried out an independent The survey also reveals that at this are identified as follows: “Tokubetsu (Black Type)” races which before placing their bets. once you are accustomed to them, it can a seat on normal racedays, and on the have added stakes money and are con- With 30 to 40 minutes between each be confusing for the novice punters, es- big days with the huge crowds, you do tested by the best horses. So punters can race (and a break for lunch!), Japanese pecially if you do not understand Japa- not need a seat with all the excitement. choose to save their money for the better punters have plenty of time to make their nese. There are windows where you can As far as sporting atmosphere goes, quality races, or try and increase their way through all the information in the give your tickets to an operator who will there is very little in Japan and possibly cash throughout the day by finding form guide, and then inspect their short put them through the machine, but there the world, to rival the goose bumps you standouts in the earlier races, or maybe listed horses, before coming to their are also many automated ticket machines get seconds prior to the start of a major by picking a rough combination to win final conclusion. where the majority of punters place their race in Japan. The thousands of Japanese (c) Joy B. Gilbert (c) www.dollar.fr (c) Junji Fukuda Horse racing with cherry blossoms in full a big trifecta. Like so many aspects of life in Japan, bets. It is usually a good idea to put your fans overflowing from the stands and Aldebaran (USA), 1998, bay Chichicastenango (FR), 1998, gray Meisho Samson (JPN), 2003, bay Black Tide (JPN), 2001, dark bay bloom. One fascinating aspect of racing in although there is plenty of information bets through early if you are visiting, into the area in front of the stand and period). There is also racing on certain (and Nakayama), to the picturesque Japan, is the wide ranging conditions of available to Japanese punters, so far, it because as the race gets close to starting the course itself, all cheering and clap- New Stallions to Stand in Japan in 2009 (Domestic only) Mondays, to create a long weekend of Kyoto and Hanshin courses (beautiful the races.