The Masuda off-course betting office (Masuda jogai hatsubaijo) in Masuda, Shimane Prefecture, closed on March 26, 2024, when its payout service ended, according to Japanese Wikipedia1. The closure followed the spread of internet betting, which the source gives as the reason customer numbers fell1.
The office stood on the site of the former Masuda Racecourse at 4-7-1 Takatsu, Masuda, Shimane1. It was operated by the Special Wards Racing Association, which runs Oi Racecourse, and sold bets in units of 100 yen1. It opened on race days from 10:00, or from 14:00 on night race days, and had parking for 146 cars1. The office sold all nine bet types, including quinella, exacta, wide, trio and trifecta1.
The racecourse itself was built in 1947 by the Shimane Prefecture Horse Affairs Promotion Association, and the first Masuda race meeting was held in 1948 under the Shimane Prefecture Horse Association1. It was briefly abolished in 1951 and restarted in March 1952 under the town of Masuda, later Masuda City1. Racing was suspended after the meeting held during the August 2002 Obon period, and the site later became the off-course betting office1.
Masuda was known as the smallest racecourse in Japan, with a 1,000 meter right-handed dirt course, a full gate of eight horses and a 200 meter straight1. Race distances were 800, 1,200, 1,350, 1,600, 1,800 and 2,200 meters1. It had capacity for 2,500 people1. Meetings were generally held on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, opening each April and closing at the end of January, with no racing in February and March1. On its final race day about 4,500 people attended, a record for the track1.
"2024年1月26日をもって勝馬投票券の発売を終了し、同年3月26日の払戻業務終了をもって閉鎖されることになった"
What it means for players
The source does not say whether unpaid tickets can be claimed elsewhere, and no alternative arrangement has been reported1. Betting on Japanese racing remains available through internet channels, which the source identifies as the reason the office lost customers1. The closure affects only this one off-course site in Shimane Prefecture; it does not change the rules for betting on racing in Japan, which are covered in the guide to horse racing and betting in Asia and the guide to gambling in Japan.
What happens next
No further steps have been reported. The source does not say what will happen to the site or the remaining facilities1. Part of the former racecourse land already holds the Shimane Prefectural Western Higher Technical School, which opened in April 2011, and the Masuda City Takatsu school lunch center, which began cooking meals for local schools in April 20161.
Sources1 sources
- 益田競馬場 - Wikipedia, ja.wikipedia.org
