Information on Sale Horses
At the sales in Japan, a wide range of information is made available on sale horses, and inspections can be done very efficiently. We hope this will help you find the horse you are looking for.
(1) Available Information
(a) Repository
On-site repository at the sales
Online repository available
(b) Anabolic Steroid Testing
All horses offered at the Hokkaido Training Sale (2-Year-Olds) have been tested for anabolic steroids with negative results.
(c) Horse Measurements
Height, heart girth and cannon circumference are announced, plus weight (for the Hokkaido Training Sale)
(d) Reserve Price (Starting Price)
If no bids are actively placed on a horse, this is the price at which bidding will start. This price will be announced for all Hokkaido Sale auctions except for the Hokkaido Selections Sale.
(e) Vices, history of surgery
(2) Inspection of Sale Horses
(a) Group Exhibit
For yearling sales, horses are exhibited in groups by lot number, allowing buyers to check horses in a very efficient way. As all consigned horses will be displayed, buyers can have the chance to see everything on offer, and something special just might catch your eye.
(b) Individual Inspections
Horses can be inspected individually at the stables.
(3) English Sales Catalogs
Catalog information in English can be obtained from the following sources:
JBIS Search website
Sale Holder's website:
Hokkaido Sales
Select Sale
equineline Sales Catalog App
Support for Overseas Buyers and Merits of Owning a Japanese-bred
Overseas buyers visiting Japan to purchase Japanese-bred horses at the sales can receive support such as accommodation, meals, transportation and interpreting assistance during the period of the sale. We can also help with information you may need after making your purchase, such as boarding, export and consumption tax refund.
Additionally, an exciting advantage of owning a Japanese-bred is our Incentive Bonus Scheme. Under this scheme, owners and trainers of Japanese-bred horses purchased at a sale in Japan that win a race abroad may be eligible to receive a lucrative Incentive Bonus.
Please contact us for further details.
Buyer’s Guide for Overseas Purchasers at Japanese Sales
2024 Sales Dates in Japan
| Date | Sale | Horse Offered | Location (Prefecture) | Sale Holder |
| 10-May | Chiba Thoroughbred Sale | 2-Y-O | Funabashi Racecourse
(Chiba) | Chiba Ryoso Agricultural
Cooperative Association |
| 21-May | Hokkaido Training Sale | 2-Y-O | JRA Sapporo Racecourse
(Hokkaido) | Hidaka Horse BA, Iburi BA,
Tokachi Horse BA |
| 18-June | Kyushu Sale | Yearlings | JBBA Kyushu Stallion Station
(Kagoshima) | Kyushu BA |
| 2-July | Hachinohe Sale | Yearlings | Hachinohe Sales Complex
(Aomori) | Aomori Prefecture BA |
| 8-July | Select Sale | Yearlings | Northern Horse Park
(Hokkaido) | Japan Racing Horse Association |
| 9-July | Foals |
| 22-24 July | Hokkaido Selection Sale
(22-July: Premium Session) | Yearlings | Hokkaido Sales Complex
(Hokkaido) | Hidaka Horse BA, Iburi BA,
Tokachi Horse BA |
| 19-24 Aug | Hokkaido Summer Sale |
| 17-19 Sep | Hokkaido September Sale |
| 15-16 Oct | Hokkaido Autumn Sale |
| 22-Oct | Northern Farm Mixed Sale | Broodmares Foals | Northern Horse Park
(Hokkaido) | Northern Horse Park |
Abbreviations: JRA=Japan Racing Association, BA=Breeders' Association, JBBA= Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association
Agents to Assist with Purchasing in Japan
Sales in Japan are conducted in Japanese, and rules and bidding methods in Japan are not the same as in other countries, which may make it difficult for overseas buyers to participate in Japanese sales. As such, if you are considering purchasing at a Japanese sale, it is strongly recommended that you retain the services of an agent familiar with the sales system in Japan to assist with your purchase.
Such an agent can offer advice and assistance with regards to various aspects of your horse purchase, including horse inspections, the actual bidding and purchasing process, export/transport of horses, consumption tax refunds, planning of your visit to the sales, etc. Please note that the agent is expected to be paid a fee for these services (typically a percentage of the amount purchased at the sale), and details should be discussed with the agent as necessary.
Below is a list of agents you can contact for assistance with purchasing at Japanese sales:
Ms. Hanako Sonobe Varian (EBONOS LTD.)
e-mail:
Tel:
+44 77-47762150
Mr. Taro Iseki (EQUEST Co., Ltd.)
e-mail:
Tel:
+81 90-2054-9809
Ms. Satomi Oka (Satomi Oka Bloodstock Pty Limited)
e-mail:
Tel:
+61 414 414 450
Mr. Takashi Iiyama (TIB LLC)
e-mail:
Tel:
+81-90-6038-1180
Mr. Mitsuoki Numamoto (Unicorn Racing, Inc.)
e-mail:
Tel:
+1-310-773-6137
The Incentive Bonus Scheme
When a Japanese-bred horse sold at sale in Japan wins a race in the regions below, the owner and trainer are eligible for an Incentive Bonus. (One horse can earn the bonus up to two times and the horse must be trained by a trainer based in that region.)
| Region | Owner's Bonus | Trainer's Bonus |
| Malaysia/Singapore* | RM30,000/S$30,000 | RM15,000/S$15,000 |
| Korea | W15,000,000 | W7,500,000 |
| Hong Kong | HK$180,000 | HK$90,000 |
(*Bonuses in Singapore to be awarded up to end of racing in Singapore in October 2024.)
Travel Subsidy
Travel subsidies for buyers who travel to Japanese sales from overseas are provided as below depending on the amount purchased:
| Area | Purchase of ¥2,000,000 up - under ¥5,000,000 | Purchase of ¥5,000,000 up | Purchase of ¥10,000,00 up accompanied by advisor* |
| Korea | ¥100,000 | ¥150,000 | Subsidy equivalent to ¥5,000,000 up category provided for advisor |
| East/South Asia other than Korea (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, India etc.) | ¥150,000 | ¥300,000 |
| Other regions | ¥250,000 | ¥500,000 |
(*For total purchase of ¥10,000,000 and above, if the buyer is accompanied by an advisor helping with the horse selection/purchase, additional subsidy equivalent to the ¥5,000,000 up subsidy amount will be provided for the advisor.)
Sales Catalogues
English sales catalogues are available online as follows:
- For all Hokkaido Sales: www.hba.or.jp/en (HBA English website)
- For the Chiba Thoroughbred Sale: https://jp-breds.com/en/index.html (Japanese-breds website)
- For the Kyushu Sale: https://jp-breds.com/en/index.html (Japanese-breds website)
- For the Hachinohe Sale: https://jp-breds.com/en/index.html (Japanese-breds website)
- For the Select Sale: https://www.jrha-selectsale.com/selectsale/index.html (Select Sale website)
- For the Northern Farm Mixed Sale: https://jp-breds.com/en/index.html (Japanese-breds website)
Printed English catalogues are also available for some of the sales. Please inquire with your agent or the Sale Holder.
Buyer Registration
You will need to register as a buyer with the Sale Holder for each sale in which you wish to participate. For example, for Hokkaido Sales of yearlings, you will need to register by submitting a Sale Participation Agreement Form to the HBA (www.hba.or.jp/en) at least 2 weeks prior to the sale, and you may be required to provide a certifier approved by the sale holder or pay a deposit according to the amount of expected purchase at the sale.
Registration rules and requirements vary depending on the sale, and buyers are recommended to confirm these requirements preferably with their agent and make sure they can register well in advance of the deadline, especially if they are purchasing in Japan for the first time.
Conditions of Sale
Please make sure you have familiarized yourself with the Conditions of Sale and other relevant information included in the sales catalogue prior to the sale, as some of the rules may be quite different from those of sales in other countries.
Transport to the Sale
For some sales, complementary shuttle bus transport is provided from the airport/select hotels. Please inquire with your agent or the Sale Holder for transport information, as you will need to secure your own transportation for sales without complimentary transfers.
Pre-purchase Veterinary Exam (Repository)
A repository for viewing limb X-rays and upper airway endoscope videos is available for sales of yearlings and 2-year-olds. (Registration is necessary to access the Repository.) It is also possible to request a veterinarian's service at the buyer's expense to review the repository material as part of the pre-purchase veterinary exam.
Payment of the Purchase Price
Please make payment of the full purchase price (price of the successful bid plus consumption tax) according to the terms of the Conditions of Sale. In particular, please make sure you are aware of the payment due date as stipulated in the Conditions of Sale.
Receipt of Horse
The Buyer is asked to take receipt of the horse within the period stipulated in the Conditions of Sale. If the horse is to stay with the seller beyond that period, the buyer will be asked to enter into a boarding agreement with the seller for the keeping of the horse at the buyer's expense.
Export and Transport of Horses
Please note that export and transportation costs can vary significantly depending on the timing and or conditions of transport. You may want to inquire beforehand with your agent the estimated cost and schedule for transporting the purchased horse(s) to your country.
Insurance
Depending on the sale, insurance is provided by the Sale Holder for the period until the purchase payment due date. (The Hokkaido Sales provides insurance for death or loss of racing ability of sale horse during this period as the "Hokkaido Sale Bridge Insurance".) It is recommended that you inquire with your agent beforehand to confirm what insurance arrangements you will need to put in place for the sale in which you are participating.
Tax Refund
You may be able to claim back the taxes you pay in Japan. Please check with your agent or someone who can advise you on purchasing in Japan regarding the actual refund process.
