Japanese summer horse racing season

During the summer of 2026, major horse racing events took place across several Japanese tracks, including Sapporo, Niigata, Chukyo, and Kawasaki.

In late July, the Japan Racing Association held meetings at Sapporo, Niigata, and Chukyo, featuring races such as the G-III Queen Stakes and the G-III Ibis Summer Dash. To combat extreme heat, venues implemented various mitigation measures. Chukyo Racecourse, facing temperatures near 39 °C, upgraded misting systems, installed automatic ‘Cool Mist Gates’, and increased the number of low-temperature cooling showers and water-cooled stalls for horses. Other venues adjusted race schedules by inserting longer midday breaks.

By mid-August, the racing season continued with the Sparking Summer Cup at Kawasaki and the 2026 World All-Star Jockeys competition at Sapporo, which featured 14 international and local riders. Other significant events included the Keeneland Cup and the Niigata Nisai Stakes. Due to ongoing high temperatures, Niigata and Chukyo maintained expanded racing schedules with extended breaks to ensure safety.