In 2025, annual betting in Japan reached a new milestone for the 14th year in a row, with a total of 3,505,966,878,300 yen (around US$22.26 billion) wagered across 288 horse racing events organized by the Japan Racing Association, marking a 5.2% increase from the previous year, according to Bloodhorse.com. The peak betting amount was originally set in 1997 at 4,000,661,663,100 yen but declined over the next 14 years, hitting a low of 2,293,578,053,600 yen in 2011. The betting volume in 2025 represents a 52.9% increase compared to that 2011 low.
Japan’s biggest betting day was December 28, with about 90.4 billion yen (approximately $580 million) wagered on the Arima Kinen event at Nakayama Racecourse. For comparison, the highest betting record in the U.S. is $349 million from the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Trainer Haruki Sugiyama led Japan in 2025 with 61 wins and earnings of 1,817,947,000 yen (about $11.54 million), having trained five major winners, including the Hopeful Stakes (G1) victor Robsen. Jockey Christophe Lemaire topped both wins and prize money, riding 140 winners and earning 3,714,361,000 yen (approximately $23.59 million). Lemaire also made history by becoming the first foreign jockey to reach 2,000 JRA wins, with highlights like his Aoba Sho (G2) win on Energico at Tokyo Racecourse.
While official figures for North American wagering in 2025 are still pending, available reports suggest a probable decline in betting volume for the third consecutive year. For more details, visit bloodhorse.com.
Fan Take: This growth in Japan’s horse racing bets highlights the sport’s expanding popularity and financial vitality in the region, signaling strong fan engagement and investment. For horse racing enthusiasts worldwide, it reflects a promising future for the sport’s global reach and competitive excitement.
