Tokyo Racecourse

The Tokyo Racecourse is located in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. It was built in 1933, and is considered the 'racecourse of racecourses' in Japanese horseracing.

The Tokyo Racecourse can seat 13,750 and has a capacity of 223,000.

In 2000, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) renovated the grandstand to create a modern racecourse that meets the diversifying needs not just of Japanese horseracing fans but of horseracing aficionados across the globe.

A grand opening was held in 2007 after the completion of seven years renovation work. Since then, the racecourse has become emblematic of the next-generation racecourse with the multi-screen "Turf Vision", recognized as the world's largest TV screen, which displays sharp, powerful images and a wealth of information on its three High Definition screens.

Tokyo Racecourse Quick Facts

• Tokyo Race Course's grass course measures 2083m (1 1/4 miles + 234 feet) with two chutes (1800m and 2000m). Races can be run on the "A Course" rail setting (on the hedge), the "B Course" setting (rail out 3 meters), the "C Course" setting (rail out 6 meters), the "D Course" setting (rail out 9 meters) or the "E Course" setting (rail out 12 meters).

• The dirt course measures 1899 meters (1 1/8 mile + 290 feet), with a 1600m chute.

• The jump course measures 1675 meters (1 mile + 215 feet).

• There was a chute for 3200m races (used for the Tenno Sho Autumn races), but when the race was shortened to 2000m, the 3200m chute was useless and is not in use as of today.

• The course was renovated in 2007 (started in 2000), adding the world's largest video screen and upgrading a grandstand, named the "Fuji View Stand", which in today is the main grandstand of the course. The "Memorial 60" grandstand was also added. The HD screen measured 218 feet wide by only 37 feet high at 8,066 square feet. In 2009 Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri took the world's largest title with a 84 foot by 104 foot is 8,736 square foot screen.

Significant Races at Tokyo Racecourse

The Tokyo Racecourse plays host to many significant races in the Japanese horseracing calendar. Here are some of them:

• Tokyo Yushun (the Japanese Derby)
• Tenno Sho (autumn)
• Yasuda Kinen
• Yushun Himba (the Japanese Oaks)
• February Stakes
• NHK Mile Cup
• Victoria Mile