National Association of Racing
# National Association of Racing

The National Association of Racing (Japanese: 地方競馬全国協会 Chiho Keiba Zenkoku Kyokai, or NAR) is the authority for horse races operated by local governments in Japan (Prefectures, cities/towns/villages or unions of them). NAR itself does not operate horse races.

In Japan, horse racing operated by local governments are called chiho keiba (Japanese: 地方競馬).

## Racetracks

Here is the list of racetracks holding races operated by local governments (as of July 2019). All are oval flat dirt tracks except Obihiro (ban'ei) and Morioka (dirt outside and turf inside). Only four are left-handed (counter-clockwise), the others are right-handed (clockwise).

| Operator | Racetrack (L/R: Left/Right-handed) |
| - | - |
| Obihiro City | Obihiro Racecourse (Obihiro, Hokkaido) - Ban'ei race |
| Hokkaido Prefecture | Monbetsu Racecourse (Hidaka, Hokkaido) R |
| Iwate Prefecture Morioka City Oshu city | Morioka Racecourse (Morioka, Iwate) L |
| Iwate Prefecture Morioka City Oshu city | Mizusawa Racecourse (Oshu, Iwate) R |
| Saitama Prefecture Saitama City | Urawa Racecourse (Minami-ku, Saitama, Saitama) L |
| Chiba Prefecture Funabashi City Narashino City | Funabashi Racecourse (Funabashi, Chiba) L |
| Tokyo 23 Ward Cities | Ohi Racecourse (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) R |
| Kanagawa Prefecture Kawasaki City | Kawasaki Racecourse (Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa) L |
| Ishikawa Prefecture Kanazawa City | Kanazawa Racecourse (Kanazawa, Ishikawa) R |
| Gifu Prefecture Kasamatsu Town Ginan town | Kasamatsu Racecourse (Kasamatsu, Gifu) R |
| Aichi Prefecture Nagoya City | Nagoya Racecourse (Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi) R |
| Hyōgo Prefecture Amagasaki City Himeji city | Sonoda Racecourse (Amagasaki, Hyogo) R |
| Hyōgo Prefecture Amagasaki City Himeji city | Himeji Racecourse (Himeji, Hyōgo)R |
| Kōchi Prefecture Kōchi City | Kochi Racecourse (Kōchi, Kōchi) R |
| Saga Prefecture Tosu City | Saga Racecourse (Tosu, Saga) R |

### Racetracks used to hold prefectural/municipal races

The following courses now hold only Japan Racing Association (JRA) races.

* Sapporo Racecourse (Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido) - Prefectural races until 2009
* Hakodate Racecourse (Hakodate, Hokkaido) - Prefectural races until 1997
* Chukyo Racecourse (Toyoake, Aichi) - Prefectural/municipal races until 2002
* Niigata Racecourse (Kita-ku, Niigata, Niigata) - Prefectural races until 2002

### Defunct NAR Racetracks

* Nakatsu Racecourse: Ended racing on March 22, 2001.
* Sanjo Racecourse: Ended racing on August 16, 2001.
* Masuda Racecourse: Ended racing on August 16, 2002.
* Ashikaga Racecourse: Ended racing on March 3, 2003.
* Kaminoyama Racecourse: Ended racing on November 11, 2003.
* Takasaki Racecourse: Ended racing on December 31, 2004.
* Utsunomiya Racecourse: Ended racing on March 14, 2005.
* Iwamizawa Racecourse: Ended racing on October 2, 2006.
* Kitami Racecourse: Ended racing on November 27, 2006.
* Asahikawa Racecourse: Ended racing in October 16, 2008.
* Arao Racecourse: Ended racing on December 23, 2011.
* Fukuyama Racecourse: Ended racing on March 24, 2013.
