Hanshin Racecourse
Hanshin Racecourse (阪神競馬場, Hanshin-keibajō) is located in Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan. It has a capacity of 139,000 and it is used for horse racing. The land was originally owned by Kawanishi Aircraft Company, which manufactured combat planes during World War II. After the World War II, GHQ ordered the company to stop manufacturing combat planes, which ended in closing the factory. In 1949, Keihanshin Keiba K.K. built the Hanshin Racecourse. The racecourse was transferred to Japan Racing Association in 1955.[1] A major reconstruction was completed in 1991, and another in 2006.
 Aerial Photo at the Hanshin Racecourse | |
| Location | Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Japan Racing Association |
| Date opened | 1949 |
| Screened on | KBS Kyoto (Sat) Kansai TV (Sun) TVG Network (USA) |
| Course type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Notable races | Takarazuka Kinen Japan Cup Dirt Oka Sho Hanshin Juvenile Fillies |
| Official website | |
Physical attributes
Hanshin Racecourse has two turf courses, a dirt course, and a jump course.
The turf's outer oval (外回り, sotomawari) measures 2089m (11⁄4 miles + 254 feet), and the inner oval (内回り, uchimawari) measures 1689m (1 mile + 261 feet). Two chutes allow races to be run at 1800m/1400m and 2600m/2200m, respectively. Races can be run on the "A Course" rail setting (on the hedge), or the "B Course" setting (rail out 4 meters). The dirt course measures 1518 meters (7/8 mile + 360 feet), with a 1400m chute.[2]
The 2089m-long outer oval turf course was part of a major construction in 2006, and was a 400m-long extension. This would eventually remove two old chutes previously used, including a 1600m chute used for the currently-used 1689m-long inner oval course. The reconstruction (until the course was completely reconstructed) forced stakes races held in Hanshin during the second reconstruction period to be held in other racecourses, including Chukyo Racecourse and Kyoto Racecourse.
Hanshin Racecourse hosted the Japan Cup Dirt from 2008; races prior to that was held in Tokyo Racecourse. It has since been moved to Chukyo since 2015 and is now known as the Champions Cup.
Notable races
| Month | Race | Distance | Age/Sex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade I | |||
| Apr | Osaka Hai | Turf 2000m | 4yo + |
| Apr | Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) | Turf 1600m out | 3yo f |
| Jun | Takarazuka Kinen | Turf 2200m | 3yo + |
| Dec | Hanshin Juvenile Fillies | Turf 1600m out | 2yo f |
| Dec | Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes | Turf 1600m out | 2yo f |
| Grade II | |||
| Mar | Fillies' Revue (Oka Sho Trial) | Turf 1400m | 3yo f |
| Mar | Hanshin Daishoten (Tenno Sho Trial) | Turf 3000m | 4yo + |
| Apr | Hanshin Himba Stakes (Victoria Mile Trial) | Turf 1400m | 4yo + f |
| Sep | Centaur Stakes (Sprinters Stakes Trial) | Turf 1200m | 3yo + |
| Sep | Rose Stakes (Shuka Sho Trial) | Turf 1800m out | 3yo f |
| Sep | Kobe Shimbun Hai (Kikuka Sho Trial) | Turf 2400m out | 3yo c&f |
| Dec | Hanshin Cup | Turf 1400m | 3yo + |
| Grade III | |||
| Feb./Mar. | Arlington Cup | Turf 1600m out | 3yo |
| Feb./Mar. | Hankyu Hai (Takamatsunomiya Kinen Trial) | Turf 1400m | 4yo + |
| Mar. | Tulip Sho (Oka Sho Trial) | Turf 1600m out | 3yo f |
| Mar. | Mainichi Hai | Turf 1800m out | 3yo |
| Apr. | Antares Stakes | Dirt 1800m | 4yo + |
| Jun. | Naruo Kinen | Turf 2000m | 3yo + |
| Jun. | Mermaid Stakes (Handicap) | Turf 2000m | 3yo + f |
| Sep./Oct. | Sirius Stakes (Handicap) | Dirt 2000m | 3yo + |
| Dec. | Challenge Cup | Turf 2000m | 3yo + |
| J-Grade II (Steeplechase) | |||
| Mar. | Hanshin Spring Jump | Turf 3900m | 4yo + |
| J-Grade III (Steeplechase) | |||
| Sep | Hanshin Jump Stakes | Turf 3140m | 3yo + |
References
- Keihanshin Real Estate Co., Ltd. 沿革 会社案内 京阪神不動産株式会社 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- JAIR. "Hanshin Racecourse". Archived from the original on 2006-10-23. Retrieved 2007-02-26.