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 | |
Hanshin Racecourse (阪神競馬場 Hanshin-keibajō) is located in Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan. 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 WWII, 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. It has a capacity of 139,877. It has 12,603 seats.
Hanshin Racecourse has two turf courses, a dirt course, and a jump course.
The turf's outer oval (外回り sotomawari) measures 2089m (1 1/4 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 has hosted the Japan Cup Dirt since 2008; races prior to that was held in Tokyo Racecourse.
| Month | Race | Distance | Age/Sex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade I | |||
| Apr | Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) | Turf 1600m out | 3yo f |
| Jun | Takarazuka Kinen | Turf 2200m | 3yo + |
| Dec | Japan Cup Dirt | Dirt 1800m | 3yo + |
| Dec | Hanshin Juvenile Fillies | Turf 1600m out | 2yo f |
| Grade II | |||
| Mar | Fillies' Revue (Oka Sho Trial) | Turf 1400m | 3yo f |
| Mar | Hanshin Daishoten | Turf 3000m | 4yo + |
| Mar/Apr | Osaka Hai | Turf 2000m | 4yo + |
| Apr | Hanshin Himba Stakes | Turf 1400m | 4yo + f |
| Sep | Centaur Stakes | 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 | 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. | Asahi Challenge Cup (Handicap) | Turf 1800m | 3yo + |
| Dec | Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes | Turf 2000m | 2yo |
| J-Grade II (Steeplechase) | |||
| Mar. | Hanshin Spring Jump | Turf 3900m | 4yo + |
| J-Grade III (Steeplechase) | |||
| Sep | Hanshin Jump Stakes | Turf 3140m | 3yo + |