What does horse racing mean to you? Is it like watching a sport? A place to have fun with your kids? Gambling?
Mark Buckton, a British journalist and horse racing-lover, visited a Japanese race track to find out the many features it offers.

【FROM THE AIR】
Main Stand – with one of the largest viewing capacities in Japanese sports, the Nakayama Main Stand runs...more

【FROM THE TRACKSIDE】
There is nothing quite like a visit to a sporting establishment.Victory is on the line, there will...more

【SOUVENIRS OF YOUR DAY RACING AT NAKAYAMA】
Turfy – a name to remember if visiting one of the JRA courses in Japan – and ...more

Japan is a country like several in Europe and elsewhere, in which horse racing has a long and proud heritage.

Essentially a part of the culture in one form or another since the 8th century, racing since the late 19th century, with the opening of the nation to Western trade and influence, has seen many of the nation’s best thoroughbreds in the intervening decades go against some world class imports. And, as we canter into the 21st century and beyond, thanks to the backing of Japan’s premier racing body, the Japan Racing Association, that phenomena only looks like being expanded upon.

Ten tracks supported by the Japan Racing Association on three of the four main Japanese islands put on an around 3,450 races per year - compared to races almost daily on around 60 courses in England. This doesn't mean the Japanese don't love their racing though. Many of the larger races – referred to under the GI, GII and GIII monikers meaning Grade 1, 2, and 3, are centered on the courses near Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, and these bigger races, just like those in England and Ireland are run under such familiar names as will be recognized by any track fan across the world. Whatsmore, they often carry similarly impressive purses to attract the best horses and jockeys from the EU (primarily the UK and France), US, Australia; and Hong Kong - from around the world they truly come.

In the modern Japanese ‘King of Sports’ – a local play on the words under which the sport is more commonly known – races are mainly held on flat courses which does differ from the British set-up where jumps are so popular, and veers more towards the Australian and US industry, although a number of races over jumps do occur annually in Japan. Both dirt and turf racing can be enjoyed up and down Japan; and usually the 'inner' course is the dirt track. This is reminiscent of races in America, less so elsewhere, but in Japan, much of the action does tend to move north during the heat of summer when the southern and western portion of the nation can get unbearably hot; a phenomena not really seen outside Japan given climate differences. That said, for race fans in Kyushu, there is still racing in Kokura near Kitakyushu City.

Year round, however, at each and every JRA track holding races, horse racing Japanese style is more about service, the community and family than many other places – for family and service truly does come first at Japanese courses making this a form of entertainment anyone can enjoy.

The Japanese racing scene is run by the Japan Racing Association, a professional body overseeing all aspects of horse racing at the highest levels throughout Japan since 1954.

Operating ten racecourses, a handful of equine related training and research facilities, and around 38 WINS (legal gambling offices) nationwide, the JRA as it is commonly called is the single most important authority on things flat or across the jumps in modern Japan.

For most fans, casual and otherwise, however, the main link to the JRA involves a visit to a track or to one of the WINS offices located in large population centers throughout Japan.

Fancy a flutter on the horses in Japan yourself courtesy the WINS system?

If so, placing a bet has never been easier thanks to the simple to follow ‘HOW TO BET’ English language booklet issued by the JRA. The booklet explains the various forms of betting in step-by-step form, detailing in images on the reverse the steps to follow with submission of betting cards to the machines so prevalent at Japanese racetracks.

Similarly useful is the template issued in various languages to non-Japanese visitors, which simply fits over the betting card, covering the potentially difficult to understand Japanese text and allows the various boxes to be filled in with English, Korean, and Chinese guidance. Incredibly easy to use, after just one or two attempts you will be out the gates and betting with ease.

1 Main Stand

with one of the largest viewing capacities in Japanese sports, the Nakayama Main Stand runs much the length of the home straight offering a range of hospitality levels and enough restaurants to cater to any taste and budget.

2 Screen

an enormous 40 meters by 9.6 meters, the main screen at Nakayama is situated right across from the central portion of the Main Stand, with a slightly smaller 14 meter by 8.4 meter partner catering to those down around the 2 furlong post so none of the action is missed.

3 Paddock

a beautifully manicured lawn surrounded by a wide display loop that enables the fans to see the horses up close before each race, or, by way of the large screen that also displays current odds, weight, and jockey information.

4 Kiddy play area

a huge swathe of grass lawns jam packed with more than enough toys and playing options for keep any child occupied for hours, including a short horse riding course for the smaller tots out there. Free water and Japanese tea for those in need of a thirst quencher is also available.

5Finishing post

no race course would be complete without it, and Nakayama’s finishing post – marked G on race-day programs has seen more than its fair share of history gallop past. One of the most popular spots to take in the action.

6 Main restaurant area

numerous restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets can be found scattered around the Nakayama Main Stand so just take a walk and see what takes your fancy – from traditional Japanese to western to fast food known the world over – all together under one roof.

View JRA Rracecourses in a larger map