Earliest date: 1866
Final Meeting: 1942
The Japanese racecourse of Negishi was located in the treaty port of Yokohama on the outskirts of Yamate. It was Japan’s first purpose-built racecourse and first opened its gates for racing in 1866. There had been racing in Japan earlier than this date, with a course at the back of the foreign settlement of Kannai in 1862, although it was built on unsuitable ground on a swamp. The Negishi racecourse became so popular that the Emperor Meiji attended races on no fewer than 14 occasions.
Note that the painting shown above, painted by Erin in 1872, is in the public domain because the artist died more than 70 years ago.
Although racing did continue during the early years of the Second World War, racing finally ceased in 1942 when the site was used by the military. After the War ended the racecourse became a public park and, very appropriately, an equestrian sports area and museum.
Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
London Illustrated News
Racing Illustrated 1895-1899
The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Sporting Magazine
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727
