The Arima Kinen is Japan’s richest race and historically has the highest betting turnover of any race on the JRA calendar. First place prize for the season-ending G1 Arima Kinen is *US$4.5m.

Annual betting turnover of the JRA for 2022 grossed *US$29.28 billion. The JRA has reported between 1-6% increases in gross wagering for ten consecutive years.

The most popular type of bet for the Japanese public is the trifecta, it equates for almost 30% of all bets placed. Horse racing, boat racing and cycling are the only legal mediums of wagering in Japan.

The JRA recorded its highest ever annual wagering in 1997, reporting a staggering gross turnover of *US$36.04 billion.

196,517 spectators is the largest official attendance in Japanese racing history. This happened on Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) day on May 27, 1990. Crowds in excess of 100,000 were a regular occurrence on the most prestigious of race days prior to Covid-19 restrictions.

2000m→2400m→ 3000m is the progression of distances for the colt’s Triple Crown races in Japan. Unlike its European counterparts, the Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) is run over the longer distance of 2000m. The Tokyo Yushun (Derby) and the Kikuka Sho (St. Leger) are the two remaining legs.

1600m→2400m→ 2000m. The Oka Sho (1000 Guineas), The Yushun Himba (Oaks) and finally the Shuka Sho completes the fillies equivalent coined The Triple Tiara.

7780 thoroughbred foals were registered in 2022. Japan is fourth in the world for this category after the US, Australia and Ireland.
Japan’s Northern most Island of Hokkaido is the centre of thoroughbred breeding in Japan. Over 95% of foals produced are born on Hokkaido. Japan’s record crop of foal occurred in 1992, 10,309 thoroughbred foals were registered.

The JRHA and the HBA are Japan’s largest auction houses, both offering yearlings at annual public sales. The JRHA hosts the only foal sale in Japan. Unique to Japan, foals are offered while still at the foot of their dams.
The average price of a yearling in the 2022 JRHA Select Sale was *US$570,000, Japan’s premier yearling sale. The highest price attained for a yearling was *US$4.5m.

Nine-time G1 winner, Almond Eye is Japan’s leading prize money earner. She earned *US$17.2m in four seasons on the track.
As a yearling, the daughter of Lord Kanaloa was syndicated for *US$270,000 by Silk Racing Club.

Japanese owned and trained horses have won 52 international G1 races. Hong Kong has been the most prolific venue accounting for 24 of the Group 1 races. England, France, Singapore, UAE, USA and Australia are destinations included in the international G1 haul.

*Currency exchanges are converted using the historical 10-year average USD/JPY of $1=¥111