Horny Harry
24-10-2002, 15:41
Tokyo Racecourse
The largest JRA facility in Japan, Tokyo Racecourse, built in 1933, is a left-handed course. Boasting a view of majestic Mount Fuji to the southwest, it is more popularly known among racegoers as Fuchu Racecourse. Constructed with fine sandy soil over former rice paddies, Tokyo Racecourse has relatively good drainage. Fully refurbished and extended in September 1993, the completely enclosed grandstand provides a comfortable environment from which to enjoy all the action.
21 years later in 1954 the JRA was set up with government funding as a semi-public body to operate domestic racing. It is now the home of Japan's most prestigious races, including the Japanese Derby, the Japan Cup, the Japanese Oaks and the Emperor's Cup. The oval track occupies an area of 199 acres and measures 2,116 metres in circumference. The Yasuda Kinen is run on the turf track, which is 24 to 35 metres wide.
Races are run both left-and right-handed in Japan; the direction of the Yasuda is left-handed. The 500-metre long straight run from the starting stalls until the first turn means that the effect of the draw is minimal in the 1,600 metre race.
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/courses/jra00101.jpg
Course length
oval turf course: 2,072m oval dirt course: 1,878m. The straight is 500m long for the turf course and 467m long for the dirt course.
After the start, the runners climb a short slope before reaching a flat stretch of about 700 metres. The track undulates throughout the race, ending with a steep upward slope of 2.3 metres from the 520 metres to the 260 metres mark.
Japan Dirt Cup
The Japan Dirt or Japan Dirt Cup, (however you wish to say it) is part of the japanese November Racing season. The race itself is for 3 year olds and over, and is run over 2000 meters, the 2001 race will be the third running of the Japan Dirt Cup. The race is run at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan's captial Tokyo on the 24th of November. Chances are if you are not Japanese or a huge fan of the races chance are you will not be as familiar with this new event.
Tokyo's racecourse seats over 196,000 people and this years event is expected to draw crouds larger then this mark.
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/courses/jra00102.jpg
Before the race a hush descends upon the course, shattered by a roar that engulfs the crowd when the gates open to begin the 2000-metre event. As they turn into the straight with 600 metres left, the murmur builds again into a roar at crescendo as the horses take their last few gut-wrenching strides
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/journal/v9n4/photo_04.jpg
Japan Cup (INT-GI) / November 25, 2001 / Tokyo Racecourse / 2,400m on turf / 3YO & up / First prize money: 250 million YEN (Photo taken in 2000)
http://www.yasudakinen.com/images/mainimage-a003.jpg
The Yasuda Kinen was first held in commemoration of the meritorious services of Mr. Izaemon Yasuda, who was the first president of the Japan Racing Association.
The race was upgraded to a Japan Group 1 race in 1984 and has become the most important race for today's miler pedigree horses. Since 1993, the Yasuda Kinen has been elevated to an international race which accepts overseas contenders. Usually, there is a maximum field size of 18 runners, among which, no more than five foreign starters will be running in the Yasuda Kinen. The race is 1,600 meter approximately a mile) and is restricted to the 3-year-old & up.
The Yasuda Kinen 2001
The 2001 Yasuda Kinen was held on Sunday, June 3 at JRA's largest racecourse, the Tokyo Race Course and had a total of US$1,630,000 prize money.
http://www.shizuoka.isp.ntt-west.co.jp/wnn-c/Mt.Fuji-museumE/fuji-gallery/img-art/z-hara501.jpg
Is there any other event in the world that runs the same race twice a year?
The Emperor's Cup ( Tenno Sho )
April, 3,200 meters - Kyoto Racecourse
October, 2,000 meters - Tokyo Racecourse
The Tenno Sho (Emperor's Cup), is the most historic of all Japanese races. Its origin traces back to 1880 when the Mikado's Vase Race was held at the Negishi Racecourse in Yokohama. From 1905, the race was run under the name of Teishitsu Goshoten Race, and a winner's prize was officially granted from Emperor Meiji. Later, the Teishitsu Goshoten races were held at officially recognized racecourses throughout Japan, including Meguro (Tokyo) and Naruo (Hyogo Prefecture).
In November of 1937 the Tenno Sho was held at the Tokyo Racecourse, and in May of the following year at the Hanshin Racecourse. It was then decided to regularly hold the race twice a year, with each race covering a distance of 3,200 meters. In 1947, the spring Tenno Sho was moved to the Kyoto Racecourse, where it has remained.
After a reorganization of Japanese racing in 1981, it became possible for a horse to participate in the Tenno Sho twice in the same year. In October of 1987, the Fall Tenno Sho was shortened to 2,000 meters to attract 3-year- old horses who had shied away from the 3,200 meter distance.
Japan Derby ( Tokyo Yushun)
2,400 meters - Tokyo Racecourse
In 1930 the Japan Derby, or Tokyo Yushun Grand Race, was established. In April of 1932, the Japan Derby, based on the English Epsom Derby, was first run at the Meguro Racecourse in Tokyo. In 1934, the Tokyo Racecourse was constructed in Fuchu City and, since then, the race has become one of Japan's most prestigious sporting events, attracting a multitude of avid followers from around the world.
http://www.imh.org/imh/jp/jpg/derbysm.jpg
The Japan Cup
2,400 meters - Tokyo Racecourse
In 1981, in order to improve the quality of Japanese racehorses and to promote international goodwill within the racing community, the Japan Racing Association established the Japan Cup as an international invitational race. Since its inception, the Japan Cup has grown in international stature, and has produced some of the most memorable races ever held in Japan. Along with the Prix de l'Arc deTriumph and the Breeders' Cup, the Japan Cup ranks as one of the greatest end of season racing events, and always attracts some of the finest horses in the sport.
The largest JRA facility in Japan, Tokyo Racecourse, built in 1933, is a left-handed course. Boasting a view of majestic Mount Fuji to the southwest, it is more popularly known among racegoers as Fuchu Racecourse. Constructed with fine sandy soil over former rice paddies, Tokyo Racecourse has relatively good drainage. Fully refurbished and extended in September 1993, the completely enclosed grandstand provides a comfortable environment from which to enjoy all the action.
21 years later in 1954 the JRA was set up with government funding as a semi-public body to operate domestic racing. It is now the home of Japan's most prestigious races, including the Japanese Derby, the Japan Cup, the Japanese Oaks and the Emperor's Cup. The oval track occupies an area of 199 acres and measures 2,116 metres in circumference. The Yasuda Kinen is run on the turf track, which is 24 to 35 metres wide.
Races are run both left-and right-handed in Japan; the direction of the Yasuda is left-handed. The 500-metre long straight run from the starting stalls until the first turn means that the effect of the draw is minimal in the 1,600 metre race.
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/courses/jra00101.jpg
Course length
oval turf course: 2,072m oval dirt course: 1,878m. The straight is 500m long for the turf course and 467m long for the dirt course.
After the start, the runners climb a short slope before reaching a flat stretch of about 700 metres. The track undulates throughout the race, ending with a steep upward slope of 2.3 metres from the 520 metres to the 260 metres mark.
Japan Dirt Cup
The Japan Dirt or Japan Dirt Cup, (however you wish to say it) is part of the japanese November Racing season. The race itself is for 3 year olds and over, and is run over 2000 meters, the 2001 race will be the third running of the Japan Dirt Cup. The race is run at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan's captial Tokyo on the 24th of November. Chances are if you are not Japanese or a huge fan of the races chance are you will not be as familiar with this new event.
Tokyo's racecourse seats over 196,000 people and this years event is expected to draw crouds larger then this mark.
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/courses/jra00102.jpg
Before the race a hush descends upon the course, shattered by a roar that engulfs the crowd when the gates open to begin the 2000-metre event. As they turn into the straight with 600 metres left, the murmur builds again into a roar at crescendo as the horses take their last few gut-wrenching strides
http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/journal/v9n4/photo_04.jpg
Japan Cup (INT-GI) / November 25, 2001 / Tokyo Racecourse / 2,400m on turf / 3YO & up / First prize money: 250 million YEN (Photo taken in 2000)
http://www.yasudakinen.com/images/mainimage-a003.jpg
The Yasuda Kinen was first held in commemoration of the meritorious services of Mr. Izaemon Yasuda, who was the first president of the Japan Racing Association.
The race was upgraded to a Japan Group 1 race in 1984 and has become the most important race for today's miler pedigree horses. Since 1993, the Yasuda Kinen has been elevated to an international race which accepts overseas contenders. Usually, there is a maximum field size of 18 runners, among which, no more than five foreign starters will be running in the Yasuda Kinen. The race is 1,600 meter approximately a mile) and is restricted to the 3-year-old & up.
The Yasuda Kinen 2001
The 2001 Yasuda Kinen was held on Sunday, June 3 at JRA's largest racecourse, the Tokyo Race Course and had a total of US$1,630,000 prize money.
http://www.shizuoka.isp.ntt-west.co.jp/wnn-c/Mt.Fuji-museumE/fuji-gallery/img-art/z-hara501.jpg
Is there any other event in the world that runs the same race twice a year?
The Emperor's Cup ( Tenno Sho )
April, 3,200 meters - Kyoto Racecourse
October, 2,000 meters - Tokyo Racecourse
The Tenno Sho (Emperor's Cup), is the most historic of all Japanese races. Its origin traces back to 1880 when the Mikado's Vase Race was held at the Negishi Racecourse in Yokohama. From 1905, the race was run under the name of Teishitsu Goshoten Race, and a winner's prize was officially granted from Emperor Meiji. Later, the Teishitsu Goshoten races were held at officially recognized racecourses throughout Japan, including Meguro (Tokyo) and Naruo (Hyogo Prefecture).
In November of 1937 the Tenno Sho was held at the Tokyo Racecourse, and in May of the following year at the Hanshin Racecourse. It was then decided to regularly hold the race twice a year, with each race covering a distance of 3,200 meters. In 1947, the spring Tenno Sho was moved to the Kyoto Racecourse, where it has remained.
After a reorganization of Japanese racing in 1981, it became possible for a horse to participate in the Tenno Sho twice in the same year. In October of 1987, the Fall Tenno Sho was shortened to 2,000 meters to attract 3-year- old horses who had shied away from the 3,200 meter distance.
Japan Derby ( Tokyo Yushun)
2,400 meters - Tokyo Racecourse
In 1930 the Japan Derby, or Tokyo Yushun Grand Race, was established. In April of 1932, the Japan Derby, based on the English Epsom Derby, was first run at the Meguro Racecourse in Tokyo. In 1934, the Tokyo Racecourse was constructed in Fuchu City and, since then, the race has become one of Japan's most prestigious sporting events, attracting a multitude of avid followers from around the world.
http://www.imh.org/imh/jp/jpg/derbysm.jpg
The Japan Cup
2,400 meters - Tokyo Racecourse
In 1981, in order to improve the quality of Japanese racehorses and to promote international goodwill within the racing community, the Japan Racing Association established the Japan Cup as an international invitational race. Since its inception, the Japan Cup has grown in international stature, and has produced some of the most memorable races ever held in Japan. Along with the Prix de l'Arc deTriumph and the Breeders' Cup, the Japan Cup ranks as one of the greatest end of season racing events, and always attracts some of the finest horses in the sport.