2020 News
COVID-19 News Update: Partial reopening of Off-Track Betting Facilities from Saturday, Sept. 26
The races to bet at JRA-operated PARK WINS, WINS and J-PLACE off-track betting facilities in the Kanto, Kansai and Tokai areas had been limited to “the day’s feature race at all racecourses and those races on which prior-day wagers could be placed.” However, from Sat., Sept. 26, wagering will be expanded to include “Races 9 through 12 at all racecourses, as well as races open to prior-day wagers.”
Also, the JRA will resume operations at EXCEL Hamamatsu and EXCEL Hakata from Sat., Sept. 26, and from Sun., Sept. 27, at WINS Urawa and J-PLACE Kanazawa.
Facilities will still be open only until 2 p.m. and live race footage and odds information will not be provided. In addition, there will be no tickets sold for seats at EXCEL Hamamatsu and EXCEL Hakata.
Facilities will be run with great caution as the safety of customers and staff remains the JRA’s top priority. Please be sure to also read “JRA Measures to Prevent Spread of Infectious Disease,” “Requests to Customers,” and “Regarding Operations Within the Facility” listed below.
Please be aware the above information may change due to the socio-economic situation.
Facilities expanding races open to wagers from Sat., Sept. 26
Facilities accepting wagers on Races 9 through 12 at all racecourses and on races open to prior-day wagers
PARK WINS |
Tokyo Racecourse, Kyoto Racecourse, Hanshin Racecourse |
|---|---|
WINS |
Ginza, Korakuen, Kinshicho, Asakusa, Shiodome, Shinjuku, Shibuya, |
J-PLACE |
Hitachinaka, Isezaki, Narita, Kisarazu, Nakago, Nagoya, Yatomi, Isobe, |
Facilities resuming operations; races open to wagers from Sat., Sept. 26
Facilities accepting wagers on Races 9 through 12 at all racecourses and on races open to prior-day wagers.
Facilities reopening |
EXCEL Hamamatsu, EXCEL Hakata |
Scope of operations |
No tickets for seating will be sold. |
Admission fee |
A 100-yen admission fee will be charged each time one enters the facility. |
Operating hours |
From 9:20 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.) |
Please note! |
-- Re-entry may not be permitted. |
Facilities resuming operations; races open to wagers from Sun., Sept. 27
Facilities accepting wagers on Races 9 through 12 at all racetracks
Facility reopening |
WINS Urawa |
Operating hours |
From 9:20 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.) |
Please note! |
WINS Urawa is open every Sunday, but also on holidays when |
SATURDAYS: Open to wagers on Races 9 through 12 at all racetracks and on races on which prior-day wagers can be placed (Grade 1 races only).
SUNDAYS: Open to wagers on graded flat races
Facility reopening |
J-PLACE Kanazawa |
Operating hours |
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Doors open at 10 a.m.) |
Closing time is 2 p.m. Please be aware that this differs from the usual hours.
No payouts will be made on winning tickets for races on the day.
A face mask is required to be worn upon entering all facilities. If you are found to have a fever or be in poor physical condition after checking the temperature at the entrance to the facilities, you will be refused entrance.
Facilities already open for betting ticket sales
PARK WINS |
Sapporo Racecourse, Hakodate Racecourse, Fukushima Racecourse,
Niigata Racecourse, |
|---|---|
WINS |
Sapporo, Kushiro, Tsugaru, Morioka, Mizusawa, Yokote, Sanbongi (Sunday only), |
J-PLACE |
Nakashibetsu, Kushiro (Aiba), Shizunai, Asahikawa, Chitose, Takigawa, |
Facilities open for payouts
Racecourse |
Nakayama Racecourse, Chukyo Racecourse |
|---|
Since races (without spectators) are being held at Nakayama and Chukyo racecourses, no wagers can be placed. However, payouts can be made at the tracks on tickets already held.
Closed facilities
EXCEL |
Tanashi, Isezaki |
|---|---|
J-PLACE |
Mombetsu, Oi, Funabashi |
JRA MEASURES TO PREVENT SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
The following measures will be taken at JRA facilities.
- Before beginning work, employees will take their temperature and make note of their physical condition. Hands will be thoroughly washed and disinfected.
- Employees will wear masks to prevent the spread of infection. Also, face shields and gloves will be worn by those coming in direct contact with the public.
- Facilities will be sufficiently ventilated.
- Plexiglass barriers and vinyl curtains have been installed to prevent airborne exposure.
- Places often touched by customers will be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
- In order to maintain proper distance from others, employees will refrain from guiding customers
REQUESTS TO CUSTOMERS
Temperature and health check
All customers are required to check the temperature when entering racing facilities and we ask you to refrain from entering the premises if you are feeling unwell or have a fever, cough, sore throat or other symptoms.
If you are found to have a fever or be in poor physical condition at the entrance to the facilities, you will be refused entrance.
We will also refuse entrance in the following cases:
- If, within the past 14 days, you have come into close contact with a person who has travelled to a region or country that has been placed under government restriction or that requires those arriving from such to stay under observation, or if you have come into close contact with a resident of such region or country.
- If you have come into close contact with a person testing positive for the coronavirus infection.
Wearing a face mask
- - A mask is required to be worn upon entering all venues. Those not wearing masks will not be permitted entrance.
- - Please observe proper etiquette when coughing or sneezing.
Maintaining distance from others
- - There are marks at the venues indicating the proper distance to be kept from other people. Please use these as your guide.
Washing and disinfecting hands
- - Hand sanitizer is provided at the entrance to a facility and at the exit. Please make use of this to disinfect your hands.
OTHERS
- - Customers with smartphones are encouraged to download and register with the "COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application" https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/cocoa_00138.html (connect to external site)
- - On the way home from WINS etc., please avoid the “Three Cs” -- Closed spaces, Crowded places and Close-contact settings.
- - When visiting a racing facility, please keep in mind those who are at the greatest risk of infection and in the gravest danger in case of it -- the elderly and those suffering from chronic illness. Please consider how your actions may affect others.
REGARDING OPERATIONS WITHIN THE FACILITY
- - For the time being, live race footage and odds information will not be provided at the off-track betting facilities. We ask customers to keep your visits as short as possible and to return home quickly after placing your bets.
- - For the time being, teller betting windows will be closed.
- - The media hall, chairs and smoking areas within the venue cannot be used.
- - There will be no shops open and no complimentary beverages offered.
- - Please note Crowds can be expected shortly after the facility opens and shortly before it closes. We advise you to avoid these times if possible.
- - In the case of congestion, entrance may be restricted.
| Along with the resumption of business operations on Saturday, September 12, 2020, the expiration date for cashing in betting tickets sold between (Sat.) Dec. 28, 2019 through (Sun, Nat'l Holiday) Feb. 23 has been extended collectively until (Sat.) Nov. 14, 2020. Those customers who have yet to cash in their betting tickets, please do so at your earliest possible convenience. Betting tickets purchased on or after (Sat.) July 11, 2020, will expire the 60 days after the date of purchase. |
