[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] Main Track Entrance Themes Compilation [2026] (21–30)
SONODA NIGHT FANFAREGōyama Mizue
This piece has been steadily established as a solemn yet glamorous fanfare that adds color to the night races at Sonoda Racecourse.
Composed by Mizue Goyama—also known for providing CHEMISTRY’s song “Kiss kara Hajimeyou”—it was first unveiled in September 2024 as the starting signal for the main race, the “Sponichi Naniwa Sho.” Since then, it has been used as the signature music for nighttime main events.
Created with an ear toward the flow from the entrance track “NIGHT RUN,” also by Goyama, it’s designed so that listening to the set doubles the sense of excitement.
The sumptuous brass arrangement by Hyoutan heightens the pre-race tension in a pleasing way.
It’s a dramatic number that lets you feel the on-site energy just as it is.
Dramatic OneSagisu Shirō
“Dramatic One” is a piece that was used from 1987 to 2009 for GII and GIII races at the Hokkaido and Kansai racecourses.
It was composed by Shiro Sagisu, known for his work on Evangelion, Waratte Iitomo!, and Shin Godzilla.
Compared to Koichi Sugiyama’s “Chromatic March,” which was used around the same time, it has a distinctly different character, making it fascinating to tell them apart by ear.
Above all, its arrangements and timbres are quintessentially 1980s, evoking the atmosphere that bridges the Showa and Heisei eras.
Victory RoadIwashiro Tarō
The piece “Victory Road” has been used as the parade ring entry theme for GI-grade races since 2010.
Since 1987, the entry themes have been divided between western and eastern Japan, and this is the western version.
Fitting for the highest class of graded races, the music has a luxurious and imposing atmosphere.
As it continues to be used even after 2010, it might be wonderful to visit the racecourse just to hear this song!
Gallop of a White Horsesugiyama kouichi
In 1987, when the abbreviation of the Japan Racing Association changed from NCK (for “Nihon Chuo Keiba-kai”) to the now-familiar JRA (Japan Racing Association), the post-parade entrance music was also overhauled.
Different regions used different tracks, and in the Kanto region, the music was composed by Koichi Sugiyama, famous for the Dragon Quest series.
The piece in question is “Hakuba no Gallop” (Gallop of the White Horse).
It was used for many years, until 2008.
It’s a classic that almost makes you feel as if Slimes or Drackies could pop up at any moment, such is its exhilarating mood.
The Final CountdownEurope
In Japanese central horse racing, the final race of the year is the “Final Stakes.” The song used for the parade ring entrance of that race is “The Final Countdown,” the 1986 track by the Swedish hard rock band Europe.
It’s chosen for the “final” connection, and when the chorus belts out “final,” it’s hard not to get pumped up.
Among entrance songs, which often feature marches and fanfares, this hard rock number is a rare choice.
Chuo FreewayArai Yumi
There are various types of special horse races, known as stakes, and each has its own track entry song.
For the “Freeway Stakes,” the track entry song used is, of course, Yumi Matsutoya’s “Chuo Freeway.” Since the lyrics even include lines referring to Tokyo Racecourse, it’s a perfect fit for this stakes race.
Although the song has a relaxed tempo, I think it’s a wonderful choice that evokes scenery and the seasons.
Green Grass MarchShiina Kunihito
Composed by Kunihito Shiina, this work is a renowned piece that has been used since 2008 as the JRA’s parade ring entrance theme.
Played for general races at the third racecourse, its dynamic melody and powerful rhythm heighten the excitement at the track.
Though it has no lyrics, the march-like composition overflows with a sense of uplift that symbolizes hope and courage.
Shiina’s musical career is wide-ranging, including collaborations with artists in Japan and abroad, as well as composing for commercials and films.
That experience shines through in this piece, resulting in a captivating track that grips the hearts of racing fans.
It’s the perfect song to amplify the tension and anticipation before a race.