3 Tokyo Racecourse Races You Should Watch

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Horse racing is widely popular in Japan. With the fast-paced action on the field, a lot of fans are kept on the edge of their seats as they watch who among the horses will reach the finish line first. 

Given the fact that Japanese people are known for being passionate about their interests, it is not surprising that there are a lot of racecourses across the country. This makes it possible for fans to watch more races in different venues. 

Today, there are a lot of horse races that are organized in the country. Among the many racecourses spread across Japan are those dubbed as the country’s big four. These racecourses are Tokyo, Nakayama, Kyoto, and Hanshin. 

The most popular among these is the Tokyo Racecourse which is hailed as the ‘racecourse of racecourses’. This is where the most popular local horse racing events are held. Here, you will witness the promising skills of the jockeys as they take control of their horses across the massive racetrack. With that, here are some of the most popular races held in this impressive racecourse. 

Tokyo Yushun 

Distance: 2,400 metres

Tokyo Yushun is the second race that needs to be won to earn the Japanese Triple Crown. This means that this Grade 1 flat horse race is only joined by three-year-old Thoroughbreds. This race is also known as the Japanese Derby as it works as a counterpart of the English Epsom Derby. 

The race had its first run in 1932 and was held every late May or early June. Before 2001, this race was exclusive to Japanese-bred horses. After the rules were updated, foreign horses are now allowed even when they are not trained in Japan. 

Yushun Himba 

Distance: 2,400 metres

The Yushun Himba is another popular race held at the Tokyo Racecourse and is the second leg of the Japanese Fillies’ Triple Crown. This race is also called the Japanese Oaks as it works as a counterpart of the English Epsom Oaks.

The race had its first run in 1938 and was held every May. In 2010, the race became historical as the race ended with a tie between Apapane and Saint Emilion. This is the first time that a G1 race ended with a dead heat win. 

Tenno Sho

Distance: 3,200 metres

The Tenno Sho is another prestigious race you can watch at the Tokyo Racecourse. The name of this race translates to ‘Emperor’s Prize’ as ‘tenno’ means ‘emperor of Japan’. This G1 race is held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn. 

This is the longest G1 race in the country and the only ones qualified to join this are Thoroughbreds aged 4 and above. 

These are just some of the prestigious local horse racing events that are held at the beautiful Tokyo Racecourse. So, if you are planning to witness an impressive race at this massive venue, these events are the ones that you should watch out for!