Emirates World Series: Japan Cup

The Emirates World Series, the brainchild of the International Racing Bureau, began in 1999 in an attempt to establish an undisputed champion of the equine world. Twelve races in ten different countries make up a genuinely international fixture list. Starting with the Dubai World Cup, there are races in England, France, Ireland, Germany, Canada, the USA (three), Australia and Japan, before the series concludes in December with the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong.

For keen racing fans this is a rare opportunity to see so many of the world's finest flat racing thoroughbreds at once. Almost invariably the race is contested on good to fast ground, covering a mile and three quarters (2200 metres), or just over a circuit, of a virtually flat, right-handed turf oval, with a one-and-a-half furlong (300-metre) straight. As always there is an incredibly strong field.

With the track just 30 minutes from central Tokyo, there can be up to 100,000 ardent fans, so be prepared for a bewildering atmosphere and lots of noise.