Racetrack & Distance Pillar Directory: JRA, Hong Kong, Korea & NAR

Japan’s championship galloping oval in Fuchu featuring a sweeping 525.9m turf homestretch, a 2.1m sustained uphill rise ("Dandaka-zaka"), and Japan’s longest dirt stretch (501.6m). True Late Pace (LP) and Final 3F acceleration dominate.

Defined by the famous 4.3m "Yodo Slope" at the 3rd corner. Runners climb up the backstretch and use the downhill descent from the 800m mark to carry momentum into a completely flat 403.7m homestretch.

Home of the Arima Kinen and Satsuki Sho. Nakayama features tight turns, a 5.3m undulating profile, a short 310m stretch, and JRA’s steepest 2.2m final climb inside the last 180m, demanding tactical early speed and power.

Western Japan’s championship dual-oval track in Takarazuka. The expansive Outer Turf (473.6m stretch) rewards elite Late Pace (LP) closers in the Oka Sho, while the Inner Turf (356.5m stretch) tests sustained stamina in the Takarazuka Kinen.

Nagoya’s modern left-handed championship venue hosting the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m Turf) and Champions Cup (1800m Dirt). Features spiral turns that slingshot runners into a demanding 412.5m uphill stretch.

Famous for Japan’s longest turf homestretch (658.7m on the Outer Course) and Japan’s only 1000m straight turf chute (Ibis Summer Dash), where outside brackets (Waku 7–8) hugging the stands-side rail hold a dramatic advantage.

Kyushu’s high-velocity right-handed oval. A 3.0m downhill drop from the 2nd corner down the backstretch generates relentless early fractions and fast winning times across its flat 293m stretch.

Hokkaido’s premier summer championship venue featuring 100% European cool-season turf (洋芝), an almost completely flat 0.7m profile, and unusually wide, sweeping turns that allow runners to carry momentum despite a short 266.1m stretch.

Japan’s oldest active thoroughbred venue features the shortest turf straight in the JRA (262.1m), tight corners, a 3.5m backstretch climb, and dense cool-season turf (洋芝), creating a pronounced bias toward inside draws and tactical early speed.

Tohoku’s compact 1600m turf oval featuring spiral curves and a 292.0m stretch. Early in each meeting, inside speed dominates; as the inner lush turf wears down, the bias shifts sharply toward spiral-turn wide stalkers.

Hong Kong’s flagship international championship venue. Featuring a sweeping 1899m turf oval, a 430m homestretch, a 1000m straight chute where high draws (Gates 10–14) hug the stands-side rail, and an inner All-Weather Track (AWT) that heavily favors early speed.

Hong Kong’s iconic floodlit Wednesday night cauldron. With a tight 1417m circumference, sharp banked turns, and a short 310m homestretch, barrier draw (Gates 1–4) and first-turn Early Pace (EP) positioning are decisive—especially on the narrow C and C+3 rails.

South Korea’s flagship venue in Gwacheon. Built with an 8cm deep silica sand cushion, tight left-handed turns, and a 400m stretch, Seoul strongly rewards inside barrier draws (Gates 1–4) and elite opening 200m (S1F) speed—especially when track moisture (함수율) rises above 10%.

Korea’s galloping sand oval in Busan-Gimhae. With sweeping turns and a 460m homestretch (60m longer than Seoul), Busan produces faster standard times, reduced inside draw bias, and far greater success for middle-draw stalkers and strong G3F closers.

Flagship venue of Japanese NAR regional dirt racing in Shinagawa, Tokyo—strictly known as Ohi Racecourse (Tokyo City Keiba, 大井競馬場) and host of the JpnI Tokyo Daishoten and Teio Sho. Its 1600m outer oval and 386m homestretch allow high-LP closers to contend alongside tactical speed.

South Kanto’s left-handed 1200m night-racing venue in Kanagawa, home of the JpnI Kawasaki Kinen and Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. Defined by tight hairpin corners that force wide runners to decelerate, rewarding inside gates and agile cornering speed.

Host of the JpnI Kashiwa Kinen in Chiba. Funabashi’s signature banked spiral curves ("cant") prevent speed loss on the turns and allow middle-draw stalkers and sustained closers to sweep wide into the 308m stretch without losing momentum.

Saitama’s compact left-handed 1200m track and host of the JpnI Sakitama Hai. With the shortest homestretch in South Kanto (just 220m), races at Urawa are won at the 3rd and 4th corners—making Early Pace (EP) and inside draws decisive.

Hyogo’s flagship western NAR venue in Amagasaki, hosting the JpnIII Hyogo Championship and Hyogo Gold Trophy. Its tight 1051m oval, 213m short stretch, and 1.2m backstretch rise reward early tactical speed and decisive 3rd-corner moves.

Located in the heart of Hokkaido’s Hidaka thoroughbred breeding region, Mombetsu boasts a spacious 1600m oval, a 330m outer stretch, and a deep 9cm sand cushion. It serves as Japan’s premier proving ground for future JRA and NAR graded stakes juveniles.

Historic Tokai circuit in Gifu famous for producing Oguri Cap. Its compact 1100m oval and short 201m stretch are balanced by banked spiral turns and deep inside rail sand, rewarding on-pace runners operating 2–3 paths off the fence.

Hokuriku’s scenic dirt oval in Ishikawa, host of the JpnII Hakusan Daishoten. Because the innermost rail path is intentionally maintained with deeper sand, riders steer 2–3 paths off the rail while keeping forward tactical position into the 236m stretch.

Shikoku’s year-round floodlit "Yosakoi Nighter" venue and host of the JpnIII Kurofune Sho. Kochi is famous for its ultra-deep 12cm inside rail sand cushion and banked turns, causing riders to abandon the rail and making middle-to-outside draws (Waku 5–8) superior.

Kyushu’s NAR dirt oval in Tosu, Saga—host of the JpnIII Saga Kinen and Summer Champion. Like Kochi and Kanazawa, Saga maintains deep sand along the innermost rail, favoring middle-to-outside draws that sweep 3-wide into contention by the 3rd corner.