In the paddock

Your First Race Day in Japan

Tickets, access, etiquette, food, and what to expect from gate to final furlong. The guide we wish we'd had.

This guide is in the paddock — being written and checked at the racecourse. The outline below shows what it will cover. Subscribe below and we'll send it when it runs.

What this guide will cover

Choosing your first racecourse (and why Hanshin or Tokyo are great starts)
Admission, reserved seats, and when you need neither
Getting there: the train lines and gates that actually make sense
The rhythm of the day: paddock, post parade, the race, the walk back
Food, drink, and what to bring
Going with kids, going alone, going with someone who “doesn’t like sports”

This weekend in keiba.

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