Japanese Horse Racing Quickly Rising To Elite Levels

Japanese horse racing is quickly rising to elite levels. Master Fencer became the first Japanese bred horse to run in the Kentucky Derby in 2019.

Horse racing in Japan has been around since the mid 1800s. The sport's popularity increased in the post-war era and the Japanese Racing Association was created in 1954. In 1981 the Japan Cup was established.

Japanese connections started their push to improve their standing on the world’s biggest stage in 1991. Sunday Silence is one of the most dominant sire lines in Japan today. In 1995 the first Japanese based horse came over for the Kentucky Derby. Master Fencer became the the first bred horse to participate in the Derby in 2019.

2021 and 2022 are watershed years for Japanese Horse Racing.

Japanese horse racing is rising to an elite level. Loves only you won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Marche Lorraine provided an upset in the Distaff.

2022 Saudi Cup card from Riyadh established the strength of the runners coming from Japan. Stay Foolish won the Red Sea Turf Stakes, Authority on the Neom Turfing Cup, Dancing Prince won Riyadh Dirt Sprint Stake and Songlines won 1351 Sprint.

Stay Foolish won the Red Sea Turf Stakes, Authority on the Neom Turfing Cup and Dancing Prince won Riyadh Dirt Sprint Stake. Songlines won 1351 Sprint.

The 2022 Dubai World Cup took place on March 26. Japan had over 20 horses entered on the card. Of the 9 races, a Japanese horse won one. The Japanese contingent made it a double when Stay Foolish won the Dubai Gold Cup in race #3. Crown Pride could be a Kentucky Derby runner after winning the UAE Derby. Panthalassa won Dubai Turf. Chuwa Wizard finished third in $12 million race.

Japanese Horse Racing is quickly rising to elite levels. Players should pay more attention to the day-to-day racing in Japan.

The Japan Racing Association is the governing body of horse racing in Japan. The JRA oversees a network of local courses that is not available on many of the online wager platforms.

The JRA represents consistency across racing. All 10 J RARA tracks run under one governing body. Races are only run on Saturday and Sunday.

Horse racing is seeing a boom of business in emerging Asian markets. The Grade 3 Flower Cup in 2022 saw a total bet of $45,920,366.90 on a single race. Gulfstream Park had a card with 13 races on March 5th and it brought in a handle of over $32,600,000.

There is a learning curve when American horse racing fans start playing Japanese horse races. The terminology is different and races are measured in meters and not furlongs. Japanese races can be bet from most of the major online platforms including TVG, Twinspires, and DRF Bets.