The JRA was tightening its grip on national betting, and local ownership was waning. In 2002, Kanazawa hit rock bottom—racing was suspended, and the track faced permanent closure.
When most people think of Japanese horse racing, their minds immediately jump to the glitz and glamour of the Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse or the historic staying power of the Tenno Sho at Kyoto. However, beneath the surface of the elite JRA (Japan Racing Association) lies a vast, passionate, and character-filled world of NAR (National Association of Racing) . kanazawa racecourse
Racing is held primarily on Sundays, Mondays, and some holidays from mid-April to mid-December. The track is closed in the deep winter (January to March) due to heavy snow in Ishikawa. The Verdict: Why You Should Go Kanazawa Racecourse is not about high-stakes glamour. It is about survival. It is a blue-collar racetrack where trainers live in small apartments above the stables and jockeys ride eight races a day just to break even. The JRA was tightening its grip on national
From Kanazawa Station's East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (#30, #31, #32, #40) toward "Mitsuyamachi" or "Nakano." Get off at "Keiba Jo Iriguchi" (Racecourse Entrance). Fare is about 220 yen. However, beneath the surface of the elite JRA
100 yen (Yes, roughly 70 cents USD). This is the cheapest live sport in Japan.
If you love horse racing for the sport rather than the spectacle, visit Kanazawa. You will stand ten feet from the rail as 1,000-pound thoroughbreds whip around a tight left-handed turn. You will taste local sake while holding a paper ticket worth $2. And you will witness a version of Japanese horse racing that is rapidly disappearing.