The staging of the Japan Racing Association Trophy at the Selangor Turf Club on 31^st January 2025 and the presentation of the prizes to the winning connection by the President and CEO of Japan Racing Association, Mr Masayoshi Yoshida is another testimonial of the strong bond that has been established between the Selangor Turf Club and JRA over the years.

2024 marked a significant milestone for JRA as it celebrated its 70^th anniversary. Due to the hard work of JRA, it has grown from strength to strength. Today Japanese horse racing is characterized by a clear system, fair and strict rules with modern and beautiful racecourses which are popular with the public.

This has been further endorsed with Equinox being named the 2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse and the Japan Cup (G1) being named the 2023 Longines World’s Best Horse Race.

JRA also played a pivotal role in fostering goodwill and promoting racing exchange among Asian nations by establishing the first Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Tokyo in 1960. Since then, ARC has become a major event on the international racing calendar, attracting and engaging the foremost leaders and greatest minds in horse racing sports.

Subsequently, ARC has given birth to the formation of Asian Racing Federation (ARF) in 2001, during the 28^th ARC held in Thailand.

The Selangor Turf Club as a member of ARF has been a strong supporter of the ARC and have participated in each and every conference that was organized and have hosted the Conference with Singapore over three occasion in 1970, 1987 and 2000.

The International Jockeys Invitational Races event was held at the Selangor Turf Club in 1987 whereby for the first time racing fans witness a race in which the field consist of riders from different countries battling with each other in the true spirit of sportsmanship and a showcase of the close ties and bonds of friendship between the ARC fraternities. Selangor Turf Club hosted similar races in 2014, participated by Japanese jockeys.

In 1994, an exchange race program between Malaysian Turf Clubs and JRA was established with the inclusion of the Malaysia Cup in the Asia Week of Racing hosted by JRA every year. A similar reciprocal race, the JRA Trophy is held each year by rotation between the three Malaysian Turf Clubs and representative from JRA are invited to present the prizes.

Chairman of Selangor Turf Club, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham travelled to Japan on many occasion to participate in the Asia Week of Racing in 1998, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2018. In 2022, he attended the Longines Japan Cup, accepting an invitation from the President and CEO of JRA to witness the running of the Longines Japan Cup.

Over the years, Tan Sri Richard Cham has formed strong relationship with past and current Presidents and CEOs of JRA during mutual visits and meetings, including Mr Yoshihiro Hamaguchi, Mr Masayuki Takahashi, Dr Kenji Tsuchikawa, Mr Masayuki Goto, and Mr Masayoshi Yoshida. Their shared passion for thoroughbred horses played a vital role in creating new connections and nurturing mutual respect.

Besides that, it was the moment when globalization of horse racing has opened up tremendous opportunities for the international racing Clubs from all parts of the world to establish close ties with each other for the advancement of horse racing and to face the great challenges that lie ahead. The coming together of JRA and the Selangor Turf Club have developed a strong partnership and cooperation over the years which has brought great benefits to both jurisdictions in terms of sharing of knowledge and racing information.

The close rapport between the JRA and the Selangor Turf Club has been fostered and solidified at all levels due to the involvement of Selangor Turf Club staff in the ARF Study Programmes, which are organised annually by the Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS) for member countries of the ARF.

The ARF General Study Programme and the ARF Specialised Study Program were started in 1991 and 1996 respectively as Japan’s contribution to the internationalization of horse racing by promoting mutual understanding and exchange of ideas among the ARF member countries. Participants have been introduced to the overall management and operation of horse racing in Japan which is an important breeding and racing country in the Asian Racing Conference.