Conduct of Racing

1. Declaration to Run

  Trainers are required to declare their horses to run at the prescribed time for each race. Declaration forms will be provided by the officials of the Racecourse to each Trainer. It is essential that any special equipment to be carried by the horse is also declared on this form. If a horse is to run with blinkers, a declaration that it is to do so must be made. When a horse has been declared to run with blinkers, they shall be worn, and when no declaration of blinkers, they must not be worn by the horse during the race. However, this does not apply in the event that the stewards of the meeting deem there is a compelling reason.

  *The use of Nasal Strips is not permitted in horse racing in Japan. Some equipment may not be allowed to be used without prior permission and therefore, please contact JRA stewards in advance.

2. Scratches

  Scratches in JRA racing, which are solely based on the opinion of the Owner or Trainer, for reasons of weather, or change in track conditions are not permitted on or after the deadline for declaration.

  Scratches are only possible after receiving the approval of the stewards of the meeting through the submission of a document (the person-in-charge will provide assistance in drawing up the necessary document), certifying to any accident to, or disease of the horse.

3. Licensing

  Visiting Trainers and Jockeys are required to attend a licensing interview with the JRA stewards for the issuance of their license. The date and time will be provided upon his/her arrival.

4. Lead Ponies

  Lead ponies are not used and cannot be brought into Japan. JRA does not have gate crew situated inside the starting gate stall in order to keep the horse in check.

5. Starting Gate Loading Procedures

  All JRA races use a Starting Gate System. The Starting Gate is a movable set of stalls with gates that open simultaneously at the start of the race. Prior to running in races conducted by the JRA, only horses which passed a gate test prior to the final declaration are able to run in the race.

  During the gate test, the starter will check the necessary loading procedures for a minimum twice, and a horse needs to be approved by the starter as being capable of loading, standing still and leaving the stalls. Trainers are required to inform the JRA after the preliminary nomination if the horse has any unruly or specific behavior at the start. However, no special loading request will be permitted apart from request to load the horse first for efficient loading.

  Loading will take place under the direction of the starter. As a general rule, horses with odd numbers in the draw will be loaded first, followed by those with even numbers, and the horse with the highest number in the draw will be loaded last no matter whether the number is odd or even. This procedure is taken for the safety of horses and people concerned, for speedy and efficient loading to start the race.

   However, horses with blindfolds or those horses with bad records at loading may be loaded first no matter whether the draw is odd or even. Should there be many unruly horses taking draw position with high numbers, the starter may decide to load the horse with lowest number draw last.

6. Matters to be noted in Relation to Jockeys

7. Insurance

8. Other Pertinent Information