2022 Japanese Racing

[tachyon]

Happy New Year!




Ⅰ. 2022 JRA (English) links:

--- Horse Racing in Japan
https://japanracing.jp/en/

-- 2022 Racing Fixtures & Principal Race Schedule (JRA)
https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/schedule/jra/2022.html

-- 2022 Racing Fixtures & Principal Race Schedule (NAR)
https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/schedu ... /2022.html

-- 2022 List of JRA Graded Races
https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/schedu ... /2022.html

-- Racecourses (JRA)
https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_rac ... cecourses/

-- Racecourses (NAR)
https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_rac ... cecourses/

-- News and Media (News, Photo Gallery, JRA Awards & Nar Grand Prix, JPN Thoroughbred Rankings)
https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/news_media/

-- Enjoy Racing
https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_racing/

-- Outline of Japanese Racing
https://japanracing.jp/en/about/

-- Horse Racing in Japan (video)
https://japanracing.jp/en/about/video.html

-- JRA Official Channel on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/jraofficial/videos

-- JRA Official (Japanese ony)
https://www.jra.go.jp/


Ⅱ. Other helpful links

-- Japanese Studbook (now available without ID and password!!!)
https://www.studbook.jp/users/en/UserMenu.php

-- JBIS
https://www.jbis.jp/index.html

-- Umaichi.com
https://umaichi.com/

-- Umanity
https://umanity.jp/en/

-- Netkeiba (Japanese only)
https://www.netkeiba.com/

-- Uma-furusato.com (Japanese only)
https://uma-furusato.com/

[Starine]

Thanks, Tachyon. I'm excited for another year of Japanese racing.

[tachyon]

You are welcome, Starine!
I'm sure that the 2022 season will be very exciting even after several stars' retirements last year.

JRA has released a new promotional video for the year 2022 in their official Youtube channel!

''HERO IS COMING''
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuUSaZvGg64

JRA features six past heroes in this clip.
Japanese racing lovers may see who they are!!
It's interesting to see JRA's selections here, one of whom is a pleasant surprise to me!

[CoronadosQuest]

That video was amazing! I will admit that I don't know who the six horses were though.

[tachyon]

I have got to apologize.... Japanese callers can never pronounce horses' English names correctly, and horses' names on saddlecloths are written in Japanese (Katakana)!

The six horses in the JRA's new promo are:

#1. Amazing heroine (filly) who defied conventional wisdom by winning the 2007 Tokyo Yushun
#2. Lone genius who didn’t allow his rivals to step his shadow (and died tragically in the 1998 Tenno Sho Autumn..)
#3. Electrifying sprinter who dominated his rivals with his ultimate speed (and won the Hong Kong Sprint twice)
#4. Fan’s favorite who grabbed people’s hearts even in his many defeats (and won his only G1 in his finale at the 2001 Hong Kong Vase)
#5. Ultra-popular grey who changed the time with his honest performances (and went out a miraculous winner in the 1990 Arima Kinen)
#6. Stunning super-hero who left everything behind!

[Flanders]

I have got to apologize.... Japanese callers can never pronounce horses' English names correctly, and horses' names on saddlecloths are written in Japanese (Katakana)!

The six horses in the JRA's new promo are:

#1. Amazing heroine (filly) who defied conventional wisdom by winning the 2007 Tokyo Yushun
#2. Lone genius who didn’t allow his rivals to step his shadow (and died tragically in the 1998 Tenno Sho Autumn..)
#3. Electrifying sprinter who dominated his rivals with his ultimate speed (and won the Hong Kong Sprint twice)
#4. Fan’s favorite who grabbed people’s hearts even in his many defeats (and won his only G1 in his finale at the 2001 Hong Kong Vase)
#5. Ultra-popular grey who changed the time with his honest performances (and went out a miraculous winner in the 1990 Arima Kinen)
#6. Stunning super-hero who left everything behind!

Thanks for posting this! I knew who 1, 3, and 6 were, and 4 was really really bothering me cause I recognized him but I couldn't think who it was.

[tachyon]

I have got to apologize.... Japanese callers can never pronounce horses' English names correctly, and horses' names on saddlecloths are written in Japanese (Katakana)!

The six horses in the JRA's new promo are:

#1. Amazing heroine (filly) who defied conventional wisdom by winning the 2007 Tokyo Yushun
#2. Lone genius who didn’t allow his rivals to step his shadow (and died tragically in the 1998 Tenno Sho Autumn..)
#3. Electrifying sprinter who dominated his rivals with his ultimate speed (and won the Hong Kong Sprint twice)
#4. Fan’s favorite who grabbed people’s hearts even in his many defeats (and won his only G1 in his finale at the 2001 Hong Kong Vase)
#5. Ultra-popular grey who changed the time with his honest performances (and went out a miraculous winner in the 1990 Arima Kinen)
#6. Stunning super-hero who left everything behind!

Thanks for posting this! I knew who 1, 3, and 6 were, and 4 was really really bothering me cause I recognized him but I couldn't think who it was.

You are welcome, Flanders!
I thought #4 horse would be the most difficult to guess right, as he was not world-famous in his days.
But, as JRA put it in this video clip (in Japanese), he was loved by so many fans in Japan.
And I know that many Japanese still believe that he is the best son of Sunday Silence, as his stud record (as a sire as well as a sire of sires), par rapport a quality of mares he (and his sons) got, doesn't seem to fall shy of #6 horse.
Personally, his nose victory over Fantastic Light in the Dubai Sheema Classic (rated G2 at that time) is most unforgettable.

[Flanders]

I have got to apologize.... Japanese callers can never pronounce horses' English names correctly, and horses' names on saddlecloths are written in Japanese (Katakana)!

The six horses in the JRA's new promo are:

#1. Amazing heroine (filly) who defied conventional wisdom by winning the 2007 Tokyo Yushun
#2. Lone genius who didn’t allow his rivals to step his shadow (and died tragically in the 1998 Tenno Sho Autumn..)
#3. Electrifying sprinter who dominated his rivals with his ultimate speed (and won the Hong Kong Sprint twice)
#4. Fan’s favorite who grabbed people’s hearts even in his many defeats (and won his only G1 in his finale at the 2001 Hong Kong Vase)
#5. Ultra-popular grey who changed the time with his honest performances (and went out a miraculous winner in the 1990 Arima Kinen)
#6. Stunning super-hero who left everything behind!

Thanks for posting this! I knew who 1, 3, and 6 were, and 4 was really really bothering me cause I recognized him but I couldn't think who it was.

You are welcome, Flanders!
I thought #4 horse would be the most difficult to guess right, as he was not world-famous in his days.
But, as JRA put it in this video clip (in Japanese), he was loved by so many fans in Japan.
And I know that many Japanese still believe that he is the best son of Sunday Silence, as his stud record (as a sire as well as a sire of sires), par rapport a quality of mares he (and his sons) got, doesn't seem to fall shy of #6 horse.
Personally, his nose victory over Fantastic Light in the Dubai Sheema Classic (rated G2 at that time) is most unforgettable.

I find it really cool that they go back and pick out horses, some more recent and others from awhile ago. I had never heard of #5 for sure, was just barely into my following horse racing at that time and didn't have coverage of Japanese racing then. I also am not sure I heard of #2 but he is beautiful and its sad so young and while still racing.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I wish I could figure out the names of those six horses based on the clues, but my knowledge of Japanese racing is not sufficient. Could someone please post their English-language names? TIA.

[tachyon]

BC Distaff winner Marche Lorraine(JPN) is now likely to run her final race in the G1 Saudi Cup to take on the boys on the dirt!!
She is the granddaughter of #4 horse above.

[tachyon]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to watch JRA's promotional video!!
From what I hear here and there, this new clip is well-received by racing fans in Japan and I like it, too.
Some say that more recent runners like Orfevre, Gold Ship, Almond Eye, Gran Alegria, Contrail etc. could have been included.
But JRA seems to be well aware that the racing has been supported not only by young fans but also by old fans (like me, haha!).

The six horses (in order of appearance in the promo) were:

#1. Vodka : Amazing heroine (filly) who defied conventional wisdom by winning the 2007 Tokyo Yushun

https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0000801136/

#2. Silence Suzuka : Lone genius who didn’t allow his rivals to step his shadow (and died tragically in the 1998 Tenno Sho Autumn..)

https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0000282236/

#3. Lord Kanaloa : Electrifying sprinter who dominated his rivals with his ultimate speed (and won the Hong Kong Sprint twice)

https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0001089850/

#4. Stay Gold : Fan’s favorite who grabbed people’s hearts even in his many defeats (and won his only G1 in his finale at the 2001 Hong Kong Vase)


https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0000286968/

#5. Oguri Cap : Ultra-popular grey who changed the time with his honest performances (and went out a miraculous winner in the 1990 Arima Kinen)

https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0000177650/

#6. Deep Impact : Stunning super-hero who left everything behind!

https://www.jbis.jp/horse/0000742976/

Which horse was the most popular of the six in Japan?
Maybe . . . Oguri Cap in 1990 . . . . But I really don't know!!!

[tachyon]

Marche Lorraine preparing for another overseas trip at Northern Farm




@AE20150310

[tachyon]

Efforia(JPN) has been crowned the 2021 Horse of the Year!!

・Horse of the Year: Efforia(JPN) (Epiphaneia)


・Best 2-year-old colt: Do Deuce(JPN) (Heart's Cry)


・Best 2-year-old filly: Circle of Life(JPN) (Epiphaneia)


・Best 3-year-old colt: Efforia(JPN) (Epiphaneia)

・Best 3-year-old filly: Sodashi(JPN) (Kurofune)


・Best older colt or horse: Contrail(JPN) (Deep Impact)


・Best older filly or mare: Loves Only You(JPN) (Deep Impact)


・Best sprinter or miler: Gran Alegria(JPN)(Deep Impact)


・Best dirt horse: T O Keynes(JPN) (Sinister Minister)


・Best steeplechase horse: Oju Chosan(JPN) (Stay Gold)


Photos courtesy of JRA https://www.jra.go.jp/news/202201/011101.html

Sinister Minister(USA) sires his first champion horse in Japan!

[tachyon]

-- from japanracing.jp (news, voting results, winners' details, race videos etc.)

Winners of the 2021 JRA Awards announced

https://japanracing.jp/_news2022/220111.html

On Jan. 11, Efforia was announced as a double winner for the JRA Awards for 2021. Efforia won both the Japan Racing Association's Horse of the Year for 2021 and Best Three-Year-Old Colt award. In the voting for the Horse of the Year award, Efforia received 277 votes out of 296.

The Horse of the Year title is the highest honor given to JRA-registered race horses and is selected by the Horse of the Year Selection Committee represented by journalists of various dailies and magazines.

Note: All information, including ages and race performances, are as of December 31, 2021, unless otherwise indicated.

[tachyon]

Marche Lorraine(JPN) has accepted an invitation to run in the G1 Saudi Cup 1800m dirt on Feb 26th.

Loves Only You(JPN) will have her retirement ceremony at Tokyo Racecourse on Jan 30th.

[tachyon]

The 2020 Triple Tiara winner Daring Tact(JPN)(Epiphaneia) has resumed training recently at Normandy Farm in Fukushima.
She had developed suspensory desmitis in her right front leg after finishing 3rd in the G1 QE2 Cup in Hong Kong in April 2021 and underwent a stem cell transplantation.

[tachyon]

Marche Lorraine(JPN) has accepted an invitation to run in the G1 Saudi Cup 1800m dirt on Feb 26th.

Loves Only You(JPN) will have her retirement ceremony at Tokyo Racecourse on Jan 30th.

Awwww I love it!!
Loves Only You posted her final workout before her retirement accompanying her stable mate Marche Lorraine !!



-- video (from DMM BANUSY)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD85FE-M_WE
Loves Only You (left) and Marche Lorraine (right)

[tachyon]

-- live-feed link to Loves Only You's retirement ceremony at Tokyo (expected to start at 02:45 EST to 23:45 PST)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDd4LVaeu4A

[tachyon]

Marche Lorraine(JPN) has accepted an invitation to run in the G1 Saudi Cup 1800m dirt on Feb 26th.

Christophe Soumillon has been booked to ride Marche Lorraine in the Saudi Cup.
Soumillon rode Marche Lorraine's sire Orfevre in the Arc.

[tachyon]

The 2021 Dubai World Cup 2nd Chuwa Wizard(JPN)(King Kamehameha) won easily under Yuga Kawada in the Jpn1 Kawasaki Kinen 2100m dirt at Kawasaki on Feb 2nd 2022.
He will be aimed again at the DWC in March.

-- replay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgWYRZfuQUE