Topic
- The year 2022 was a year of major changes in the horse racing industry, including the amendment of the Horse Racing Law by the Japanese Diet.
As a fan of horse racing who is not directly involved in the racing industry, one particularly significant change was the announcement of the development and expansion of the system of dirt races for 2- and 3-year-old horses.
Starting in 2024, the Haneda Hai, Tokyo Derby, and Japan Dirt Classic will be held as the Triple Crown of 3-year-old dirt races.
Dirt races currently held in NAR except for the Tokyo Daishoten are domestic grade, but it was also announced that they aim to make it international grade.
It is likely that more horse breeders will focus their efforts on dirt racing in the future. - Cafe Pharoah, Stars on Earth, Titleholder, and Equinox won two G1 races.
Stars on Earth tried for the filly’s third crown, but lost to Stunning Rose in the Shuka Sho. - Oju Chosan won the Nakayama Grand Jump for his 9th J-G1 race victory.
The legend of steeplechase racing also began to show signs of decline and retired this year. - The renovation of Kyoto Racecourse from 2020 continued in 2022.
The construction is scheduled to be completed and reopen on April 22, 2023.
Flat-G1 races held by JRA
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Gelding) | 1st |  |
|
| February Stakes | Tokyo D1600 |
over 4 / CFG | Cafe Pharoah | ◆ | E |
| Takamatsunomiya Kinen | Chukyo T1200 |
over 4 / CFG | Naran Huleg | ◆ | E |
| Osaka Hai | Hanshin T2000 |
over 4 / CFG | Potager | ◆ | E |
| Oka Sho | Hanshin T1600 |
3 / F | Stars on Earth | ◆ | E |
| Satsuki Sho | Nakayama T2000 |
3 / CF | Geoglyph | ◆ | E |
| Tenno Sho (Spring) | Hanshin T3200 |
over 4 / CFG | Titleholder | ◆ | E |
| NHK Mile Cup | Tokyo T1600 |
3 / CF | Danon Scorpion | ◆ | E |
| Victoria Mile | Tokyo T1600 |
over 4 / F | Sodashi | ◆ | E |
| Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) | Tokyo T2400 |
3 / F | Stars on Earth | ◆ | E |
| Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) | Tokyo T2400 |
3 / CF | Do Deuce | ◆ | E |
| Yasuda Kinen | Tokyo T1600 |
over 3 / CFG | Songline | ◆ | E |
| Takarazuka Kinen | Hanshin T2200 |
over 3 / CFG | Titleholder | ◆ | E |
| Sprinters Stakes | Nakayama D1200 |
over 3 / CFG | Gendarme | ◆ | E |
| Shuka Sho | Hanshin T2000 |
3 / F | Stunning Rose | ◆ | E |
| Kikuka Sho | Hanshin T3000 |
3 / CF | Ask Victor More | ◆ | E |
| Tenno Sho (Autumn) | Tokyo T2000 |
over 3 / CFG | Equinox | ◆ | E |
| Queen Elizabeth II Cup | Hanshin T2200 |
over 3 / F | Geraldina | ◆ | E |
| Mile Championship | Hanshin T1600 |
over 3 / CFG | Serifos | ◆ | E |
| Japan Cup | Tokyo T2400 |
over 3 / CFG | Vela Azul | ◆ | E |
| Champions Cup | Chukyo D1800 |
over 3 /CFG | Jun Light Bolt | ◆ | E |
| Hanshin Juvenile Fillies | Hanshin T1600 |
2 / F | Liberty Island | ◆ | E |
| Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes | Hanshin T1600 |
2 / CF | Dolce More | ◆ | E |
| Arima Kinen | Nakayama T2500 |
over 3 / CFG | Equinox | ◆ | E |
| Hopeful Stakes | Nakayama T2000 |
2 / CF | Dura Erede | ◆ | E |
J・G1 races (Steeplechase)
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Gelding) | 1st | |
| Nakayama Grand Jump | Nakayama J4250 |
over 4 / CFG | Oju Chosan | ◆ |
| Nakayama Daishogai | Nakayama J4100 |
over 4 / CFG | Nishino Daisy | ◆ |
G1 races held by NAR
| Races | Track | age / (Colt Filly Gelding) | 1st | |
| Kawasaki Kinen | Kawasaki D2100 |
over 4 / CFG | Chuwa Wizard | ◆ |
| Kashiwa Kinen | Funabashi D1600 |
over 4 / CFG | Shonan Nadeshiko | ◆ |
| Teio Sho | Ohi D2000 |
over 4 / CFG | Meisho Hario | ◆ |
| Japan Dirt Derby | Ohi D2000 |
3 / CFG | Notturno | ◆ |
| Mile Championship Nambu Hai | Morioka D1600 |
over 3 / CFG | Cafe Pharoah | ◆ |
| JBC Ladies’ Classic | Morioka D1800 |
over 3 / F | Valle de la Luna | ◆ |
| JBC Sprint | Morioka D1200 |
over 3 / CFG | Dancing Prince | ◆ |
| JBC Classic | Morioka D2000 |
over 3 / CFG | T O Keynes | ◆ |
| Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | Kawasaki D1600 |
2 / CFG | Derma Sotogake | ◆ |
| Tokyo Daishoten | Ohi D2000 |
over 3 / CFG | Ushba Tesoro | ◆ |
JRA Award
| Horse of the Year | Equinox |
| Best Two-Year-Old Colt | Dolce More |
| Best Two-Year-Old Filly | Liberty Island |
| Best Three-Year-Old Colt | Equinox |
| Best Three-Year-Old Filly | Stars on Earth |
| Best Older Male Horse | Titleholder |
| Best Older Filly or Mare | Geraldina |
| Best Sprinter or Miler | Serifos |
| Best Dirt Horse | Cafe Pharoah |
| Best Steeplechase Horse | Oju Chosan |
| Leading sire in Japan | Deep Impact |
| ← 2021 | All | 2023 → |