Japan Track Serving as Disaster Support Center

The New Year's Day earthquake that devastated parts of Western Japan has impacted Thoroughbred racing there.

Kanazawa Horse Park, which is not under Japan Racing Association jurisdiction, has canceled all activity—including its New Year's meet and off-track betting—through Jan. 5. The track officials noted on the Kanazawa Horse Park website that it will be providing refunds after Jan. 6. 

The track, run by the local government, is serving as the hub for disaster support efforts at the request of the Japanese government.

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Japan's Ishikawa prefecture, about 186 miles northwest of Tokyo.

The earthquake and the resulting tsunami waves have caused significant damage and loss of life. The Associated Press reported there are at least 62 deaths with many other people unaccounted for. 

Ishikawa governor Hiroshi Hase wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that there were "large-scale fires, buildings and houses collapsed, mountains collapsed" as a result of the earthquake. He added that "roads were blocked in several places, and houses were being flooded with mud from the back mountains" in certain areas. He wrote, "We are in a dire situation, with many wooden houses collapsed due to the shaking of the earthquake, damage believed to have been caused by a tsunami, and multiple boats and cars capsized."