Tokyo Racecourse

Tokyo Racecourse (東京競馬場, Tōkyō Keiba-jō) is located in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan.[1] Built in 1933 for horse racing, it is considered the "racecourse of racecourses" in Japanese horseracing.[1] It has a capacity of 223,000,[2] with seating for 13,750.

Tokyo Racecourse
東京競馬場
Aerial Photo at the Tokyo Racecourse
LocationFuchū, Tokyo, Japan
Owned byJapan Racing Association
Date opened1933
Screened onTV Tokyo (Saturday)
Fuji Television (Sunday)
NHK (both General TV and BS-hi; select Sundays)
TVG Network (USA broadcasting)
Horse Racing TV (occasional USA broadcasting)
Course typeFlat, Steeplechase
Notable racesJapan Cup
Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)
Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks)
Yasuda Kinen
Tenno Sho (Autumn)
February Stakes
NHK Mile Cup
Victoria Mile (G1)
Official website
Main grandstand at the Tokyo Racecourse
Turf Vision video screen

Tokyo Racecourse hosts numerous G1 (Grade 1) races, including the Japan Cup, Tokyo Yushun (the Japanese Derby) and the Yasuda Kinen, a part of the Asian Mile Challenge.[1]

Physical attributes

Tokyo Race Course's grass course measures 2083m (1¼ 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).[3]

The dirt course measures 1899 meters (1⅛ mile + 290 feet), with a 1600m chute.[3]

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 (66 m) wide by only 37 feet (11 m) high at 8,066 square feet (749.4 m2). In 2009 Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri took the world's largest title with an 84-foot (26 m) by 104-foot (32 m) is 8,736-square-foot (811.6 m2) screen.[4]

Transportation

The racecourse is linked to Fuchūkeiba-seimommae Station by a footbridge.

Notable races
Month Race Distance Age/Sex
Grade I
Feb.February StakesDirt 1600m4yo +
May.NHK Mile CupTurf 1600m3yo c&f
May.Victoria MileTurf 1600m4yo + f
May.Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks)Turf 2400m3yo f
May./Jun.Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)Turf 2400m3yo c&f
Jun.Yasuda KinenTurf 1600m3yo +
Oct./Nov.Tenno Sho (Autumn)Turf 2000m3yo +
Nov.Japan CupTurf 2400m3yo +
Grade II
Apr.Flora Stakes (Oaks Trial)Turf 2000m3yo f
Apr./MayAoba Sho (Derby Trial)Turf 2400m3yo
MayKeio Hai Spring Cup (Yasuda Kinen Trial)Turf 1400m4yo +
MayMeguro Kinen (Handicap)Turf 2500m3yo +
Oct.Mainichi Okan (Tenno Sho Autumn Trial)Turf 1800m3yo +
Oct.Fuchu Himba Stakes (Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup Trial)Turf 1800m3yo + f
Nov.Copa Republica Argentina (Handicap)Turf 2500m3yo +
Nov.Keio Hai Nisai StakesTurf 1400m2yo
Grade III
Jan./Feb.Tokyo Shimbun HaiTurf 1600m4yo +
Jan./Feb.Negishi Stakes (February Stakes Trial)Dirt 1400m4yo +
Jan./Feb.Kyodo News Service HaiTurf 1800m3yo
Feb.Diamond Stakes (Handicap)Turf 3400m4yo +
Feb.Queen CupTurf 1600m3yo f
Jun.Unicorn StakesDirt 1600m3yo
Jun.Epsom CupTurf 1800m3yo +
Oct.Fuji Stakes (Mile Championship Trial)Turf 1600m3yo +
Oct./Nov.Musashino Stakes (Champions Cup Trial)Dirt 1600m3yo +
Nov.Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai StakesTurf 1800m2yo
Nov.Artemis StakesTurf 1600m2yo f
Unlisted Races
Jan.Crocus StakesTurf 1400m3yo
J-Grade II (Steeplechase)
Jun.Tokyo High-JumpTurf 3300m3yo +
J-Grade III (Steeplechase)
Oct.Tokyo Autumn JumpTurf 3300m3yo +

References
  1. The Japan Association for International Horse Racing. "Racecourses (JRA): Tokyo Racecourse". Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  2. "Tokyo Racecourse". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  3. The Japan Association for International Horse Racing. "Tokyo Racecourse". Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  4. Kansas City Royals to get 'world's largest' HD LED scoreboard – endgadeget.com – Retrieved May 18, 2009

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