Tokyo City Cup Part of Japan Family Day

Santa Anita Park will play host to the Japanese community this Saturday as The Great Race Place stages the 59th running of the Grade III, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup. 

The race, for older horses at the marathon distance of 1 ½ miles, will serve as the centerpiece of a daylong assortment of Japanese cultural events in the track’s Infield Area that includes food, music, dance, Karate, Kendo (Japanese Samurai Swordsmanship) and Sumo Wrestling exhibitions, as well as an opportunity to win a round-trip ticket, courtesy of Singapore Airlines, from Los Angeles to Tokyo.

In order to win the round trip air fare to Tokyo, fans must select a winner in the Tokyo City Cup and submit their ballot at the Tokyo City Cup Game booth, located on-track.

Additionally, Santa Anita will provide a showcase of Japanese tradition and heritage by conducting a two-day Infield Ramen Yokocho Festival on Saturday and Sunday in the track’s Infield Area.  Fans are invited to taste some of the best ramen, including unique, hard to find dishes.  Admission to the Infield Ramen Yokocho Festival is five dollars and available to walk-ups only.  Admission will not be available online.    

With admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Japanese culture will be celebrated throughout the day in a variety of ways, including the following activities and demonstrations:

ORIGAMI     --The art of folding paper                       

OMATSURI  --Japanese Traditional Festival  

KIMONO MODELS   --Ikumi Yoshimatsu & Cortney Palm will be on-hand to model authentic styles

CITY OF TOKYO --Travel Information

POP CULTURE         --Anime, J-pop, fashion

JAPANESE FOOD & BEVERAGE  --Sushi, Okonomiyaki, BBQ, Japanese Tea, Onigiri, Bakery & Japanese Beer

FLEA MARKET         --Entrepreneurial booths, exhibits

TSUGARU SHAMISEN  --Three-stringed Japanese Lute

SHISHI MAI  --Lion Dance

SUMO                       --Japanese Wrestling

RYUKYU BUYO       --Okinawa Traditional Dance

KENDO                      --Japanese Samurai Swordsmanship

MINYO                      --Japanese Folk Music

KARATE  --Japanese Martial Arts by Yamaki Dojo

PONY RIDES & FACE PAINTING  --Available in Infield Area

TAIKO by LA MATSURI TAIKO  --Japanese Drum Performance before & after Tokyo City Cup

Source: Santa Anita Park