Nakayama Racecourse will command the full attention of Japanese racing on Saturday, December 27, as a twelve-race programme unfolds with layered intensity, generational contrast, and rare Grade 1 weight. The day will be crowned by two defining showpieces: The Nakayama Daishogai (J.G1) at 3:00 pm, valued at ¥134,510,000, and The Hopeful Stakes (G1) at 3:45 pm, carrying ¥135,660,000 and shaping the future of Japan’s classic generation. From juvenile discovery to elite endurance, the meeting is set to progress with purpose, each race tightening focus toward moments of lasting consequence.
The day will spring to life 10:00 am with Race 1, a 2-Year-Old Maiden over 1200 metres. With 15 runners competing for ¥10,600,000, early speed and raw potential will define the opener as juveniles take their first serious steps into competition.
At 10:30 am, Race 2 will stretch the test to 1800 metres in another 2-Year-Old Maiden, drawing 16 runners for the same ¥10,600,000 prize. Balance, settling ability, and stamina will begin to matter as distance introduces complexity.
The juvenile focus will continue at 11:00 am in Race 3, a 2-Year-Old Maiden over 1800 metres. With eight runners engaged, precision and positioning are expected to play a decisive role in a more compact field.
Scale and ambition will expand sharply at 11:30 am with Race 4, a 2-Year-Old Maiden contested over 2000 metres. Featuring a full field of 18 runners and ¥10,600,000 on offer, the race will test maturity and mental strength in demanding conditions.
Anticipation will rise at 12:20 pm with Race 5, a 2-Year-Old Newcomer over 1600 metres. With 16 unraced runners competing for ¥14,250,000, the race will carry the thrill of unknown talent and untapped potential.
Speed will return to the forefront at 12:50 pm in Race 6, another 2-Year-Old Newcomer, this time over 1200 metres. With 14 runners and ¥14,250,000 at stake, sharp breaks and natural pace will be critical.
Experience will enter the picture at 1:20 pm with Race 7, an Allowance for 3-Year-Olds and Up over 2200 metres. A deep field of 18 runners will contest ¥15,200,000, demanding stamina and tactical patience as class begins to assert itself.
At 1:50 pm, Race 8 will maintain momentum with another Allowance for 3-Year-Olds and Up, contested over 1800 metres. With 16 runners and ¥15,200,000 on the line, rhythm and positioning will shape the outcome.
The stakes will rise further at 2:20 pm with Race 9 – the Best Wishes Cup, an Allowance race for 3-Year-Olds and Up over 1200 metres. Featuring 16 runners and a richer ¥29,970,000 purse, pace pressure and execution are expected to sharpen dramatically.
All focus will then narrow at 3:00 pm for Race 10 – The Nakayama Daishogai (J.G1), the most prestigious jump race in Japan. Contested over a demanding 4100 metres, the 10-runner Open Class field will compete for ¥134,510,000, where endurance, bravery, and jumping precision will be tested to their absolute limits in a race that defines careers.
Barely allowing time to breathe, attention will shift to 3:45 pm for Race 11 – The Hopeful Stakes (G1), the crown jewel of the flat programme. Open to 2-Year-Olds and run over 2000 metres, the 16-runner field will contest ¥135,660,000, with future classic implications hanging heavily over every stride.
The meeting will conclude at 4:25 pm with Race 12 – the Grateful Stakes, an Allowance for 3-Year-Olds and Up over a stamina-testing 2500 metres. With 14 runners chasing ¥35,480,000, the finale promises a demanding and fitting close to a day defined by progression and prestige.
With twelve races, a powerful juvenile narrative, and two Grade 1 monumental centrepieces that define both defining both legacy and future, Nakayama Racecards on December 27 is set to deliver one of the season’s most consequential race days. From first steps to ultimate tests, the meeting will not simply crown winners — it will reveal who is ready to shape Japanese racing’s next chapter.
Nakayama Racecards 27 December promise a day of thrilling action, featuring 12 competitive races culminating in two prestigious G1 showpieces.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.