[From Classics to Hidden Favorites] A Compilation of Main Track Entrance Themes [2026]
Horse racing, a sport with a long history, has in recent years seen a growing fanbase not only among men but also women, and thanks to the popularity of Uma Musume, it feels like its appeal has been reaching younger audiences as well.
In 2025, the TV drama The Royal Family, based on Kazuma Hayami’s novel, became a huge hit, but when it comes to elements essential to horse racing—a culture cherished for many years—it has to be the ‘parade ring entrance themes’ played before the races! In this article, we’ll present a lineup centered on iconic classics of these entrance themes, while also including lesser-known tracks and surprising songs that were used only for a limited time.
If just hearing them brings those famous scenes back to life for you, or even if you’re new to horse racing, please read on.
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[From classics to hidden favorites] Collection of main track entrance themes [2026] (11–20)
Chromatic Marchsugiyama kouichi
From 1987 to 2009, the piece “Chromatic March” was used for GII and GIII races at racecourses in the Kanto region.
It is also a work by Koichi Sugiyama, known as a composer of racecourse entrance themes.
Compared to Shiro Sagisu’s “Dramatic One,” which was used in Kansai and Hokkaido during the same period, this one is a traditional fanfare-style march that conveys the warmth of live instruments.
It’s a superb classic that makes you want to imagine the excitement at the racecourses of the time, picturing the great horses making their entrances to this music.
Don’t Stop Me NowQueen
Released as a single in January 1979 by the legendary British rock band Queen, this energetic track appears on the album Jazz.
In December 2013, it was used as the entrance theme at Funabashi Racecourse.
Centered on Freddie Mercury’s powerful piano playing, the song is full of exhilarating drive and charm.
It regained attention after being featured in the film Shaun of the Dead, and it’s a great recommendation for anyone about to take on a challenge or looking to lift their spirits.
OverDriverSukima Suichi
It’s an energetic number by Sukima Switch that delivers an irresistible sense of speed, like flooring the accelerator of your heart.
Created as the lead track for the album “Hot Milk,” released in November 2021, the song was chosen as the theme for Funabashi Keiba.
In the 2024 season, its instrumental version was also used as the track for the horses’ entrance to the main course, making it a familiar tune for local fans as well.
The powerful lyrics, which push you to break free from worries and stagnation and move forward, and the driving band sound leave a strong impression.
It’s an anthem that gives a strong push to anyone aiming to take on a challenge.
Along with the pre-race excitement, give it a listen when you’re ready to take a new step.
HOLIDAYSKimura Kaera
Just by listening, you can feel your heart sprinting toward the weekend racetrack—those popping beats and colorful sounds really stand out.
Blending Kaela Kimura’s signature, exuberant brightness with the headlong rush of a live band, this track sends the excitement of fans awaiting the race to a fever pitch.
True to its “holiday” theme, it has a liberating feel, with a rhythm so pleasant you can’t help but clap along.
Released as a single in May 2017, it became widely familiar as a JRA commercial song featuring Tori Matsuzaka and others.
Composed by AxSxE of the band NATSUMEN, it shines with a performance that’s both catchy and solidly muscular.
The Majestic MarchShiina Kunihito
The piece used for regular JRA races since 2008 is The Majestic March.
This track is used in eastern Japan, replacing Koichi Sugiyama’s White Horse March, which had been used since 1987.
This composition also has a dignified air; you can easily picture the racehorses making a gallant entrance to this BGM, and it’s so vivid you can almost hear the announcer’s voice introducing the horses.
young coltHattori Itsurō
Itsurō Hattori, also known as Raymond Hattori, is a composer best known for works such as Cobalt no Sora, the sports theme for TBS television and radio.
In fact, the first march used as the parade ring entrance music in Japan Racing Association (central) horse racing was Hattori’s Kamome.
This piece is rare, and it seems no audio sources remain, but the work introduced in this article, Wakakoma, was used as the Hanshin Racecourse’s parade ring entrance music until 1987.
It may be a piece known only to those with quite detailed knowledge, but it appears to still be used at some regional racecourses.
As the title suggests—and with its heroic melody—it’s a perfect fit for entrance music!
[From Classics to Hidden Favorites] Main Track Entrance Themes Compilation [2026] (21–30)
NIGHT RUNGōyama Mizue
When it comes to the exhilarating melody you hear on Friday nights at Sonoda Racecourse, this is the track! Used as the main track entrance theme for Sonoda Friday Night Races since their debut in September 2012, this piece was composed by Mizue Goyama, also known for providing songs to CHEMISTRY.
It’s an electrifying number that captures the vitality of racehorses heading into night races.
Truly the “face of the night races,” it has been beloved for many years, and it’s perfect as background music for that post-work sense of freedom or when you want to blow away the week’s fatigue.
Why not enjoy this high-velocity sound that hints at the hot night to come?