Start with the basics
There are 12 races in a day of racing. Different racers compete in each race, so keeping track of their skill levels and knowing who to bet on may seem difficult. Fear not! At every venue, you can find a race card that provides you with all you need to know to get started! This card is full of useful information for predicting the race, like the racers’ categories, their past performance, and more. On this page, we’ll show you how to use that data to make predictions.
The race card is full of numbers and Japanese characters, so it can look intimidating at first. However, if you know what to look for, it’s really easy to understand what you are looking at!
Race Information
The race card format may vary depending on the race venue, but the information listed
is always the same.
Understanding the content will help you navigate your way around Japanese Boat Race!
1. Race number
There are 12 races per day. In this example, we’re looking at the information for race number 7.
2. Purchase deadline
This is the deadline for purchasing betting tickets. The actual race will start at least a few minutes later, so that gives you time to go grab a seat to watch!
3. Names of participating racers
This is the list of the racers’ names. All that Japanese text might look intimidating, but don’t worry if you can’t it! Even for Japanese people, some of those names can be hard to read. If there’s a heart by the name, that means the racer is a woman. The number to the right is the racer’s age.
Main Prediction Points
Now that you know what race you are betting on, let’s focus on the numbers that will help you predict the winner and experience the race on a whole new level!
1. Prediction by boat number
The smaller the number, the better the race position.
2. Prediction by category — A1 racers are better!
Racers are ranked in four categories: A1, A2, B1 and B2, according to their winning levels. The A1 racers have the best records, whereas the B2 racers are at the bottom.
3. Prediction by winning levels
In this case, the larger the number on top, the better! This is the winning level. The two numbers under that are probabilities. The first is the probability of finishing in top two spots, and under that is the probability of finishing in top three.
Other data points
We’ve highlighted the top three data points to use for making good predictions. So what are all those other numbers? They cover things average starting time (how many tenths of a second it takes to cross the start line after the clock starts), False and Late (F/L) start records (which might mean racers now try to go faster or slower to avoid these!), and even information about the motor performance and the boat being used. The deeper of a fan you become the more you discover and learn, but the main three data points are enough to get you started!
Types of Bets
You can place bets for as little as 100 yen, and you have some options with high chances of winning! The hardest prediction to make is a Trifecta bet, so first-timers, we recommend trying a Place-Show bet, for which the odds are 1/15.
Trifecta (3連単):
Pick the three boats that finish first, second, and third in exact order.
Exactra (2連単):
Pick the two boats that finish first and second in exact order.
Trio (3連複):
Pick the three boats that finish within the first three places, without regard for the order.
Place-Show (2連複):
Pick the two boats that finish within the first two places, without regard for the
order.
For example, if you pick boats 1 and 2 and these two boats finish first and second, you win your
bet.
Quinella-Place (拡連複):
Pick any combination of two of the top three winners, without regard for the
order.
You win your bet if your two selected boats finish first and second, second and third, or first and
third.
* If two or more boats finish third at the same time, the combinations with the boat that finishes
third are excluded.
Examples
Still not sure how to place a bet? Let’s use some of the things we just learned to make a prediction for this fictional race.
Exacta: Picking the first-place and second-place boats in their exact order
Use the numbers to your advantage!
Using the three main data points mentioned above, let’s make some predictions! First, we’ll stick with A1 and A2 racers (Boat 2, Boat 3, and Boat 4). There are two A2 racers, so we’ll use their winning level numbers to pick between them. That means we’re choosing Boats 2 and 4 as our two Exacta choices.
Don't forget that when you mark your choices on the betting card, you can only use pencil, and you need to make the marks thick and clear. There are pencils available at every betting venue, right around the betting cards.
1. First choose the racetrack!
Since the same cards are used across Japan, you need to mark a number for which racetrack you're betting on. This is the racetrack where the race you're betting on is happening.
2. Race number
In this case, it’s race number 7.
Trio: Picking the first-, second-, and third-place boats, in any order
Let’s see another example!
Here we’re looking for the same data points, but on a different race card.
In this case we have one A1 racer, one A2 racer, and three B1 racers. Boat 1 has the best position on the inside lane, and it’s an A2 racer, but the higher-ranked A1 racer is on the far lane in Boat 6. It might be tricky to pick between them, but good news! With a Trio, the exact order of finishing doesn’t matter. We can just focus on which boats have the best chances of being somewhere in the top three. As for our third choice, we can look at the winning levels to choose one of the B1 racers. According to these numbers, Boat 5 looks like the best choice.
1. Boat Race racetrack number
2. Race number
Race number 5.
See also
Remember to purchase a Boat Race betting ticket!
Make sure to purchase a betting ticket after filling out your card! You can find instructions on the How to Bet page.
Advanced Betting Tips
Here’s how to make an even more precise prediction based on more data points across
the race card!
We’ll do another example of a Trio bet. The order does not matter; we just want to pick who will finish in
the top three.
Prediction points:
The racer’s category, start timing, and winning levels, and the motor’s winning level
First, check the racer category. In this case, Boat 4 is ranked A1 and Boat 2 is ranked A2. Next, check the average starting time. The fastest ones are Boats 5, 2, and 4. Third, check the winning level. Boat 4 is way ahead, followed by Boats 2 and 1. Finally, check the motor’s winning level! Boats 3, 6, and 4 are best in this case. Based on these factors, how about picking Boat 1 for its advantageous inner lane and decent stats, Boat 2 for its starting time and winning levels, and Boat 4 for its A1 category and other strong stats?
Marking example:
A Trio bet on the 6th race at Suminoe (Osaka) with Boats 1, 2, and 4 in the top three for 1,500 yen.
In this case, the chances of winning are 1/20, and the odds are 15.3.
This means that if you win, your 1,500 yen bet is multiplied by 15.3, so your prize money for an
accurate prediction will be 22,950 yen!
Join the fun at the Boat Race!
We hope you’ll enjoy your visit to one of our many venues across Japan!
These guidelines are enough to get you started, but there are even more resources out there in person to
help you make better predictions.
We especially recommend talking to the “tipster” staff members, since before each race, they will explain the probability each boat has to win.
Although they only speak in Japanese, they use boards and colorful boat magnets to explain their predictions. Even if you are a beginner to Boat Race and speak no Japanese, standing nearby to see where a tipster places those boat magnets can be a big help.
Don’t forget to collect your prize money!
You can come to any Boat Race venue in Japan to watch the races, enjoy the food, check out the other attractions, and have a great time without placing any bets at all. With such high odds, though, we welcome you to join the fun and try making some predictions!
Bets can be as low as 100 yen, so you can get started with a single coin. If you win, congratulations! There are machines all over the venue that you can use to collect your prize money on the spot. Have a great time, and may the odds be with you!
