Horseracing in Japan

Horseracing is vastly popular in the land of the rising sun. In fact, Japan holds an average of about two thousand race meetings annually, with close to 18,000 flat and jump races.

The betting turnover is number one worldwide, with total flat and jump purses that rank second in the world. Globally, Japan also breeds the fourth highest number of Thoroughbreds.

Modern horseracing in Japan had its beginnings in racing events that were organized by foreign residents of Yokohama in 1862.

All authorized horseracing in Japan are conducted by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) (a public enterprise established by the national government) and local government entities only.

Furthermore, the law does not permit wagering to be conducted by anyone other than racing authorities and racing authorities must offer all wagers under a pari-mutuel formula.

Japan Racing Association (JRA)

JRA was established in 1954 by the enactment of the Japan Racing Association Law to take over horse racing that had been operated by the national government. JRA operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

JRA operates ten racecourses with eight of these holding both flat and jump racing. The remaining two racecourses only hold flat racing. There were 3,453 races held during 2006, which generated a betting turnover of ¥2.8223 trillion.

National Association of Racing (NAR)

The NAR was established in 1962 to standardize the registration of local racing's racehorse owners and racehorses as well as to establish a licensing authority for local racing trainers and jockeys nationwide.

Designated autonomous local municipalities and designated prefectural governments have held Racing by Local Governments since 1948. NAR is the centralized organization and registry for Racing by Local Governments.

This racing, like that of JRA, is under the oversight of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and operates among other purposes to contribute to the finances of local governments.