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Watsdachances Headlines Appalachian Stakes

Watsdachances makes her first start since finishing second in last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) in the $100,000 Appalachian Presented by the Japan Racing Association April 18 at Keeneland.

TVG to Air Group I Races from Japan

TVG has announced that in partnership with Woodbine Entertainment Group, the horse racing network is expanding its live coverage of racing from Japan in 2013.

War Emblem Represented by Champion in Japan

War Emblem, the 2002 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner who has had a limited number of foals due to his selectivity in the breeding shed, has been represented by a champion in Japan.

Canadian Champion Chief Bearhart Dies

Two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Chief Bearhart, who stood at the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association Shizunai Stallion Station, died Sept. 18 of acute heart failure.

Around the Globe: Dr. Harry Sweeney

The Irish-born veterinarian from Dundalk admits he never imagined years ago that he would find both success and happiness in the faraway land of Japan

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Orfevre Wins Japanese Two Thousand Guineas

The first classic race in Japan to be run since the devastating earthquake and tsunami took place at Tokyo Racecourse on April 24 when the Japanese Two Thousand Guineas (Jpn-I) was won by Orfevre.

Japan Forced to Move First Classic Race

Earthquake damage to Nakayama Racecourse has forced the rescheduling and relocation of Japan's first classic race, the Japanese 2000 Guineas (Jpn-I) to Tokyo Racecourse. The race will be run April 24 instead of April 17.

JRA Cancels Nakayama March schedule

Four group races are affected by the cancellation. Racing will be held at Hanshin and Kokura racecourses.

JRA Reports Farms OK But Tracks Damaged

Reports from different areas of Japan have so far indicated no major farm damage on Hokkaido as a result of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Tracks and OTBs in the Northeast district have been damaged.

Minimal Damage From Tsunami at Darley Japan

The devastation in Japan that was caused by an earthquake and a tsunami March 11 did little harm to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation in Japan.

BC Challenge Race to be Held in Japan

The Breeders' Cup Challenge series will be expanding to Japan this year.

Vodka Repeats as Japan Horse of the Year

For the second year in a row, top race mare Vodka was voted Horse of the Year in Japan, becoming the first female to win the title twice.

JRA Graded Races Open to Foreign Entries

The Japan Racing Association has announced that all JRA graded races will be open to foreign-trained horses starting in 2010.

TVG to Boost Japanese Racing Coverage

TVG, in partnership with Emerald Downs, is expanding its coverage of horse racing from Japan for the fifth consecutive year to include 18 group I races, the most ever televised by TVG.

Aldebaran Headed to Japan

Darby Dan Farm has announced that a purchase agreement has been reached between the Aldebaran Syndicate and the Japan Racing Association.

Came Home Headed to Japan

William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm has announced a purchase agreement to relocate second-crop stallion Came Home to Japan.

Tsuchikawa Named Japan Racing Association President

Kenji Tsuchikawa, 63, was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Japan Racing Association effective Sept. 1. He joined the JRA in 1968 as a veterinary surgeon.

Racing Canceled in Japan Due to Influenza

Live racing in Japan was canceled this weekend after symptoms of equine influenza were found in 29 horses, the Japanese Racing Association announced Aug. 17.

Deep Impact Repeats as Japan's Horse of Year

Deep Impact collected 287 of a possible 289 (97.9%) total votes in winning the 2006 Japanese Racing Association's Horse of the Year Award for the second year in a row.

Deep Impact Charges to Japan Cup Victory; Ouija Board Third

Reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Deep Impact got the redemption his connections desperately wanted when the 4-year-old son of Sunday Silence rallied from last to win the 26th running of the $4.6-million Japan Cup (Jpn-I) at Tokyo Race Course on Sunday.

El Condor Pasa Colt Alondite Wins Japan Cup Dirt

Alondite recorded his fifth consecutive victory of 2006 in Saturday's $2.4-million Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I), benefiting from a ground-saving ride under Hiroki Goto to win by 1 1/4-lengths over favored Seeking the Dia.

JRA Buys English Champion David Junior

The Japan Racing Association has bought English champion and group I winner David Junior to stand at the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association's Shizunai Stallion Station.

Deep Impact Overwhelms Japanese Foes

As expected, Japanese champion Deep Impact won Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen (Jpn-I) before 80,000 spectators convincingly in his final domestic outing at Kyoto Racecourse prior to heading to France for the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) on Oct. 1.

Japanese Fans Camp Out for Weeks to Get Best View of the Races

Yoshino Matsumoto is willing to do just about anything to get a spot on the rail at the finish line for major races at Japan Racing Association tracks -- including camping out by the front gate for as long as a week.

Japan Cup Field Deep in Quality; Posts Drawn for Cup and JC Dirt

Though Japanese Triple Crown winner Deep Impact is sitting this one out, Sunday's 25th running of the Japan Cup (Jpn-I) boasts two Breeders' Cup winners, one winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-I), a two-time Vodafone Coronation Cup (Eng-I) winner, and the two previous winners of the Japan Cup.

Lava Man Heads American Contingent for Japan Cup Weekend

Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I) winner Lava Man, who will try to give trainer Doug O'Neill his second victory in three years in the Japan Cup Dirt, worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 at Hollywood Park Saturday morning and is set to head to Japan on Tuesday.

Zenno Rob Roy Heads Japanese Champions

Zenno Rob Roy, whose three group I wins included a score in the Japan Cup, was named Horse of the Year and champion older male by the Japan Racing Association.

Worldwide Woes

By Ray Paulick - In many ways, the Japan Racing Association is the envy of the racing world. As a branch of the national government's ministry of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, the JRA controls all facets of the industry, including racecourse management, scheduling, marketing, licensing, drug testing, and pari-mutuel operations.

Open Book

By Ray Paulick - Though its brightest days may be in the past, the Japan Racing Association has decided to allow a little more sun to shine on a sport and industry that for the past 50 years has virtually been closed to outsiders.

Host Country Sweeps Japan Cup, Japan Cup Dirt Before 119,362 Fans

Japanese-trained horses swept the top three positions in the Japan Racing Association's two major group I international races, when Zenno Rob Roy won the Japan Cup and Time Paradox took the Japan Cup Dirt, both run at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 28 under sunny skies.

Global Sprint Championship Series Unveiled for 2005

Racing organizations in Australia, England, and Japan announced a six-race series for sprinters, the Global Sprint Challenge, that will use free or subsidized travel instead of a cash bonus as an incentive for participation.

Global Sprint Championship Series Unveiled for 2005

Racing organizations in Australia, England, and Japan announced a six-race series for sprinters, the Global Sprint Challenge, that will use free or subsidized travel instead of a cash bonus as an incentive for participation.

The Search for Ferdinand

By Barbara Bayer -- Over six months have passed since I reported the tragic tale of Ferdinand. When I set about getting the story, I had little idea of what it would lead to, what far-reaching repercussions the story would have as it set off a conflagration of emotion across the U.S. that spread quickly to Japan and back to me.

Symboli Kris S. named Japan's Horse of the Year

The JRA has announced its list of 2002 champions, with American-bred Symboli Kris S. taking top honors as Japan's Horse of the Year.

Japan Cup Race Report: Dettori Double

Jockey Frankie Dettori wins both the Japan Cup and Japan Cup Dirt with Falbrav and Eagle Cafe, respectively.

Japan Cup Race Report (Cont.)

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Does 'Jeopardy' Host Have the Answer for Japan Cup Dirt?

Television personality Alex Trebek livened up Thursday morning activities at Nakayama racecourse, joking during a press conference that he would spend the night teaching his Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) contender Reba's Gold how to "turn right."

War Emblem Nominated to Japanese Race

The Thoroughbred Corp.'s War Emblem, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner who has been purchased for stud duty in Japan by the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station, has been nominated for the Nov. 23 Japan Cup Dirt, the main track companion race to the Japan Cup turf race held the following day.

Japan's Take Fractures Pelvis in Racing Accident

Champion Japanese jockey Yutaka Take will be out three to six months as the result of a spill at Nakayama race course on Sunday.

Jungle Pocket Japan's Horse of the Year; Wagering Suffers Declines

Japan Cup (Jpn-I) winner Jungle Pocket was voted Horse of the Year in Japan for 2001, a year in which wagering dropped for the fourth consecutive year and is at its lowest level in a decade.

Seven Americans to Contest Japan Cup Races

The United States will have a strong contingent of seven horses at this year's Japan Cup (Jpn-I) and Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) invitational races at Tokyo racecourse next Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24-25, including horses trained by Hall of Fame conditioners Jonathan Sheppard, Neil Drysdale, Richard Mandella, and Robert Frankel.

Anson Gambles on Japanese Invitation for Sign of Fire

The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships aren't the only races being run this Saturday. Just ask Ron Anson, who with wife Susie owns a 4-year-old colt named Sign of Fire, scheduled to run at Tokyo Racecourse on Saturday in the $750,000 Musashino Stakes (Jpn-III).

Pegram: 'Mixed Emotions' Selling Captain Steve to JRA

Mike Pegram, who said multiple grade I winner Captain Steve "took us to a lot of places, from Altoona, Iowa, to Dubai," said he agreed to sell the 4-year-old son of Fly So Free to the Japan Racing Association for $5 million only after efforts to drum up interest among American breeders failed.

Desormeaux to Ride in Japan for Three Months

Kent Desormeaux won the Kentucky Derby in 1998 and 2000, but in 2001 his best Derby hope may come on May 27 in the Japanese Derby at Tokyo racecourse. Desormeaux has agreed to ride in Japan on a three-month license from the Japan Racing Association, beginning on April 28, the date of a key trial race for the Japanese classic.

Japanese Racing Suffers Business Declines Again in 2000

Like its ailing economy, racing in Japan is slumping. The Japan Racing Association reported a third consecutive year of declines in 2000 in both on-track attendance and total handle. With government-sanctioned wagering on soccer set to begin in Japan this year, 2001 promises to be a major challenge for the JRA.

Future Options

By Ray Paulick -- The Japan Racing Association, whose business and marketing acumen has been a role model for the rest of the racing world, is sputtering after more than a decade and a half of sensational growth.

Americans Stretch Legs for Japan Cup Dirt and Turf Races

American runners John's Call, Timboroa, Euchre, and Lord Sterling had their first serious exercise at Tokyo race course on Thursday in preparation for the Japan Racing Association's two major group I international races: the inaugural $2.4 million Japan Cup Dirt at 1 5/16 miles on Saturday and the $4.4 million Japan Cup run at a mile and a half over the turf on Sunday.