Japanese horse racing calendar for the 2025 campaign

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) has already given the schedule of all horse races this year. They have also provided full details of each event like where the race will be held, the distance on the track, and up to how many Thoroughbreds will be joining.

Here’s all the note-worthy racing events that you can bet on in 2025:

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February 23: February Stakes

The February Stakes is the first G1 JRA race every year as per tradition. It’s a 1,600-metre flat-foot sprint on dirt tracks for Thoroughbreds 4-year-olds and above where up to 16 participants may join. It will be hosted at the Tokyo Racecourse’s left-handed track.

March 24: Takamatsunomiya Kinen

Takamatsunomiya Kinen is scheduled to run about a week later in the month compared to last year’s running. It is a 1,200-metre flat-foot sprint on turf for Thoroughbreds of ages 4 years old and up. The maximum number of starters for the race is 18 and is set to take place at the Chukyo Racecourse on a left-handed track.

April 6: Osaka Hai

This event is a 2,000-metre flat-foot race on a right-handed turf track in Hanshin. Qualifications to join as one of the 16 starters must be Thoroughbreds colts and fillies of at least 4 years old and above.

April 13: Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas)

The Triple Crown Fillies (Triple Tiara) starts with its first leg, the Oka Sho. It’s a 1,600-metre flat-foot race on a right-handed turf track in the Hanshin Racecourse for 3-year-old fillies only. Up to 18 starters can join and aim for the chance to become the next Japanese Triple Tiara champion.

April 19: Nakayama Grand Jump

The Nakayama Grand Jump is the first J-G1 race of the year and it’s being held at the Nakayama Racecourse. It’s a 4,250-metre steeplechase on a right and left-handed turf track. Up to 16 racehorses can join but they must be Thoroughbreds of ages 4 years and up.

April 20: Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)

The Satsuki Sho is the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown and it’s a 2,000-metre flat race on a right-handed turf track. Nakayama Racecourse will host this event with up to 18 starters. All participants must be 3-year-old colts and fillies.

May 4: Tenno Sho Spring

Tenno Sho (Emperor’s Cup) marks the closing of the month both this year and the last. It’s a 3,200-metre flat-foot race on a right-handed turf track in Kyoto Racecourse. Up to 18 starters of Thoroughbreds ages 4 years old and up may join. The Tenno Sho was originally Japan’s biggest event until they inaugurated the Japan Cup in 1981.

May 11: NHK Mile Cup

The NHK Mile is a 1,600-metre flat-foot dash on a left-handed turf track in the Tokyo Racecourse. It can have up to 18 starters in a race but the participants can only be 3-year-old Thoroughbred colts and fillies.

May 18: Victoria Mile

The Victoria Mile is also a 1,600-metre flat-foot dash on the Tokyo Racecourse’s left-handed turf track. Up to 18 starters can join the event but they need to be at least 4-year-old Thoroughbred fillies and mares. The Victoria Mile is a relatively big event rivalling the NHK Mile Cup but it’s a warmup entertainment for the following week.

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May 25: Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks)

It’s a 2,400-metre G1 flat-foot race on a left-handed turf track to be held at the Tokyo Racecourse. Up to 18 participants may participate but they must be 3-year-old Thoroughbred fillies.

June 1: Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)

Following Yushun Himba a week later is the 2nd leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, the Tokyo Yushun. It’s a G1 2,400-metre flat-foot race where up to 18 starters may participate. Qualifications are 3-year-old Thoroughbred colts and fillies. The tracks are on left-handed turf in the Tokyo Racecourse.

June 8: Yasuda Kinen

June is one of the least busy months of the year for horse racing but at least it has two G1 races. The first is Yasuda Kinen, a 1,600-metre flat-foot race on a left-handed Turf in the Tokyo Racecourse. Up to 18 Thoroughbred participants ages 3 years old and up may join the race.

June 15: Takarazuka Kinen

Takarazuka Kinen is the closing event for June 2025 but with two weeks still in the month, the race is followed by three G3 races before August starts. This race is a G1 2,200-metre flat-foot race on a right-handed turf track in Hanshin Racecourse for Thoroughbreds 3-year-olds and up.

July to August

There aren’t any G1 races in July and August but the top racing grade resumes in September. However, there are G3 races scheduled for these months every weekend.

September 28: Sprinters Stakes

This is the honour of one of Japan’s top races of the campaign, the Sprinter Stakes. It was the start of October last year but it has now moved up to be the closing event for September.

The Sprinters Stakes is a 1,200-metre dash on turf track to be hosted at the Nakayama Racecourse. It can host up to 16 starters of 3-year-old and older Thoroughbreds.

October 19: Shuka Sho

The Shuka Sho is the final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown series, making it the campaign highlight for G1 3-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It’s a 2,000-metre dash on a right-handed turf track at the Kyoto Racecourse.

October 26: Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger)

Following Shuka Sho a week later is the Kikuka Sho for 3-year-old Thoroughbred colts and fillies. Up to 18 starters can join this 3,000-metre race on a right-handed turf track at the Kyoto Racecourse.

November 2: Tenno Sho (Autumn)

The Autumn Tenno Sho (Emperor’s Cup) is the second-biggest G1 event in Japanese horse racing. It is the Japanese Autumn Triple Crown’s first leg to be held at the Tokyo Racecourse on a 2,000-metre flat-foot race on a left-handed turf track. Up to 18 Thoroughbreds aged 3 years old and above may join.

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November 16: Queen Elizabeth II Cup

The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Thoroughbred race for 3-year-olds and up fillies and mares only. Up to 18 starters can race in this 2,200-metre flat-foot race on a right-handed turf track at the Kyoto Racecourse.

November 23: Mile Championship

The Mile Championship is a 1,600-metre dash race at the Kyoto Racecourse on turf. There are a total of 18 Thoroughbreds aged 3 years old and above in this race.

November 30: Japan Cup

The Japan Cup is officially the most prestigious race in the JRA and it’s an invitation-only event for 3-year-old and up Thoroughbreds. The race is set on a 2,400-metre flat-foot dash on left-handed turf at the Tokyo Racecourse. The Japan Cup is also the culmination of 2025 where the best of JRA’s Thoroughbreds compete with champions around the world.

December 7: Champions Cup

The Champion’s Cup starts the following week right after the Japan Cup. It’s a big G1 event as well but for Thoroughbreds who skipped or were not invited to the Japan Cup. The race distance is 1,800-metre on Chukyo dirt track and it can host up to 16 starters. Only 3-year-old Thoroughbreds may join.

December 14: Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies is the final stakes to rate juveniles’ placement in preparation for their upcoming 3-year-old season in 2025. Hanshin Racecourse is hosting this event and it’s only for 2-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. Up to 18 starters may participate in this 1,600-metre flat-foot race on a right-handed turf track.

December 21: Asahi Hai Futurity

The Asahi Hai Futurity is a higher-rated G1 race than Hanshin Juvenile Fillies because this event is for both colts. Only 2-year-olds may enter as one of up to 18 starters and it is also hosted on the 1,600-metre right-handed turf track of Hanshin Racecourse.

December 27: Nakayama Daishogai

The Nakayama Daishogai is one of the two biggest steeplechase races in the JRA (the other being the Nakayama Grand Jump). It’s a 4100-metre race on the right and left-handed turf track of the Nakayama Racecourse for up to 16 Thoroughbreds ages 3 years and up.

December 27: Hopeful Stakes

Up to 18 of the best 2-year-old Thoroughbreds are invited to participate in the Hopeful Stakes. It’s a 2,000-metre flat-foot race on a right-handed turf at the Nakayama Racecourse. Top placers are definitive G1 contenders in their 3-year-old campaign for the following year.

December 28: Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix)

While the Japan Cup is the biggest event in Japan as an international invitational, Arima Kinen is the climactic event for local racehorses in the JRA. It’s a 2,500-metre G1 flat-foot race on a right-handed turf track at the Nakayama Racecourse. Up to 16 starters can join but they must be Thoroughbreds 3 years old and up.

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Clarence Clarke21 Nov 2024