The JRA Chukyo Racecourse outside of Nagoya is set to reopen after nearly two years of renovation work that saw racing moved to other venues from April of 2010. Grand opening is slated for Saturday, March 3.

Construction work, which came at a total cost of over 17 billion yen, saw a complete renovation of Chukyo's dirt course and an extension of the turf course, changes that have resulted in what comprises a change of image for the racecourse, formerly known as a tight-turned, completely flat track.

The turf course, which formerly had a circumference of 1,600 meters, has been lengthened by over 100 meters and now measures 1,705 meters around with a 412.5-meter long homestretch. The dirt course, formerly 1,417 meters around, now measures 1,530 meters, with a run to the finish line from the final bend of 410.7 meters, making it the longest dirt stretch in Western Japan. It tops the Kyoto Racecourse dirt straight by nearly 82 meters, Hanshin by over 58 meters and Kokura by nearly 120 meters.

In addition to the longer distance of a lap around the turf course, the final meters of the turf course, previously known for its fast times as compared to most of the other JRA tracks, have been given a slope. The Chukyo turf now, like Nakayama Racecourse, ends in a upward slope, steep enough to be clearly visible from the stands. The track rises 2 meters over 100 meters -- from 340 meters out to 240 meters before the finish line. The dirt track as well rises 1.8 meters at the end.

The new main grandstand, which replaces the old stand built in 1970, has been christened Pegasus. Completely open to the outside air but protected from above by a huge overhanging transparent roof, the architecture allows for a feeling of expansiveness and enables racing fans to enjoy the exhilarating sounds of horses' hooves and the roar of the crowd. The racecourse is also equipped with natural-resource friendly solar panels, making Chukyo Japan's first racecourse to harness the power of the sun.

The paddock, or pre-parade ring, is now visible from the stands and offers fans a closer look at the horses while facilitating a quick return to the windows to place bets after last-minute final checks. Also, like at Tokyo, via a glass viewing area looking onto the underground weighing-in room, racegoers to Chukyo can now catch more of the emotional moments of the sport as horses go out to the gates and as they return after the races.

On Feb. 14, jockeys had a chance to try out the changes to the tracks. Ten JRA jockeys, including Kenichi Ikezoe, Yutaka Take and Yuichi Fukunaga, took part in two simulation races -- a mile turf and a 1,400-meter dirt event. “It's become a fabulous course,” Take said of Chukyo. “The course itself is bigger, easier to ride and more pleasant to ride. I'm looking forward to riding here.”

Ikezoe, set to ride Curren Chan in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, expressed some concern over the change in the turf course, which now in both the mile and over 1,200 meters, offers less distance before the begin of the turn into the stretch. “If I get an outside draw,” Ikezoe said, “I will have to rethink things.” Fukunaga, on the other hand, who also has a mount in the G1 event, noted that though “some say the outside gates will be disadvantaged, with the banked final turn, I think it'll be easy for the horses to go around the bend.”

The new slope in the homestretch earned the respect of all, who noted that it will take extra horsepower to win at the course and riders' abilities will be tested even more than before.

Among other new additions to the racecourse for those wishing to spend time with the family away from the races are such leisure spots as a new park outfitted with a huge wooden horse for children to climb on and a chance to see real miniature ponies. In the Takamatsunomiya Kinen Memorial Garden, decorated with relief plaques of past winners of the sprint race, one can revisit memories of favorite past heroes.

Grand Opening Day will offer fans a chance to win lottery prizes, with tickets distributed on the first day from 9:20 near the West Entrance and events throughout March. The first meeting kicks off with an appearance of Reina Matsui, of the popular singing group SKE48 from 8:30 a.m. in the paddock.

This year, Chukyo Racing is scheduled from March 3 on weekends through the end of March. March 4 sees the 2,000-meter G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai and the G3 1,400-meter Chunichi Sports Sho Falcon Stakes on March 17. The highlight of the month comes on March 25, with the 42nd running of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, which is, along with the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in the fall, one of the most important sprint races of the year. Racing will also be held at Chukyo from June 30 to July 22 and for three weekends in December from the 1st.