Big Red Farm

Big Red Farm (有限会社ビッグレッドファーム) is a Japanese Thoroughbred breeding farm and racehorse owner based in Meiwa, Niikappu District, Hokkaido. It was established in 1974 in Urakawa, Shizunai District (now part of Hidaka District, Shin-Hidaka), and over the following decades expanded into a multi-site operation with facilities including the Shinme Training Park, the Urakawa farm, and the Hokota Training Center in Ibaraki Prefecture — the group's first facility on Japan's main island of Honshu. The farm is closely associated with the Okada family; its representative is Yukiko Okada, wife of the late prominent owner-breeder Shigeyuki Okada, and the Meiwa farm manager is Motohiro Osada. The operation is both a producer (breeder) and an owner of racehorses. As an owner it is registered with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) under the name Big Red Farm Co., Ltd., with a racing silks design of red and green checks with red sleeves. Its horses commonly carry the 'Cosmo' prefix, though some, such as Kalm and Vril, do not. The farm has bred and/or owned numerous graded-stakes winners, including Meiner Kitz (2009 Tenno Sho Spring), Uberleben (2021 Yushun Himba / Japanese Oaks), Cosmo Bulk (Singapore Airlines International Cup), and more recent standouts such as Meiner Grand (Nakayama Grand Jump) and Cosmo Kuranda (2024 Yayoi Sho). Big Red Farm also operates as a stallion station, standing and boarding notable sires over the years. Its 2026 roster includes Gold Ship, Joe Cappuccino, Win Bright, Benbatl, Danon the Kid, and Laurel River, while past residents have included Agnes Digital, Stay Gold, Time Paradox, Roses in May, and Grand Prix Dream, among others. The farm additionally maintains retired horses of merit, such as Cosmo Bulk and Meiner Milano. The business remains privately held as a limited company and continues to publish updates on its official website, including stallion news and visitor information. Its long history, breeding record, and stallion roster make it one of the better-known private breeding operations in Japan's Hidaka region.

Big Red Farm traces its origins to 1974, when a farm was established in Urakawa, Shizunai District (present-day Hidaka District, Shin-Hidaka), Hokkaido. The operation grew steadily over the following decades. In 1989 it founded the Big Red Farm Shinme Training Park, and in 1998 it acquired the majority of Meiwa Farm Co., Ltd., opening Big Red Farm Meiwa. In 2002 it established Big Red Farm Meiwa Hills, and in 2003 the production base shifted from Urakawa to Meiwa, where breeding operations began. A significant corporate step came in 2006, when the operation was registered with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) as an owner under the name Big Red Farm Co., Ltd. (有限会社ビッグレッドファーム), effective April 19. Ownership of the 68 horses then registered under the name of Yukiko Okada was transferred to Big Red Farm. In December 2007 the group opened the Big Red Farm Hokota Training Center in Hokota City, Ibaraki Prefecture — its first related facility on Honshu. Beyond its core breeding and ownership activities, Big Red Farm has been a notable stallion station. Over the years it has stood or boarded sires such as Grand Prix Dream, Dyna Letter, Movie Star, Silver Ending, Battle Line, Meiner Love, Mejiro Bright, Agnes Digital, Stay Gold, Time Paradox, Roses in May, and Danon Ballade, among many others. Its 2026 stallion roster includes Gold Ship, Joe Cappuccino, Win Bright, Benbatl, Danon the Kid, and Laurel River. The farm's breeding program has produced numerous graded-stakes winners, including Meiner Kitz (2009 Tenno Sho Spring), Uberleben (2021 Yushun Himba), Meiner Grand (2023 Nakayama Grand Jump), Cosmo Kuranda (2024 Yayoi Sho), and Kogane no Sora (2024 Queen Stakes). As an owner, it has campaigned horses such as Cosmo Bulk, winner of the Singapore Airlines International Cup, and Cosmo Phantom, winner of the Nakayama Kinen and Chunichi Shimbun Hai. The farm also cares for retired horses of merit, including Cosmo Bulk and Meiner Milano. The operation remains a privately held limited company, with Yukiko Okada as representative and Motohiro Osada as manager of the Meiwa farm. It continues to publish updates on its official website, including stallion news and visitor information.

• 2024

  Cosmo Kuranda won the Yayoi Sho (Deep Impact Kinen).

• 2023

  Meiner Grand won the Nakayama Grand Jump.

• 2021

  Uberleben won the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks).

• 2009

  Meiner Kitz won the Tenno Sho (Spring).

• 2007

  Big Red Farm Hokota Training Center opened in Hokota City, Ibaraki Prefecture — first related facility on Honshu.

• 2006

  Registered with JRA as an owner under Big Red Farm Co., Ltd. effective April 19; ownership of 68 horses transferred from Yukiko Okada.

• 2003

  Production base moved from Urakawa to Meiwa; breeding began at Meiwa.

• 2002

  Big Red Farm Meiwa Hills founded.

• 1998

  Acquired majority of Meiwa Farm Co., Ltd.; opened Big Red Farm Meiwa.

• 1989

  Big Red Farm Shinme Training Park founded.

• 1974

  Farm established in Urakawa, Shizunai District (now Shin-Hidaka), Hokkaido.

A long-established private Thoroughbred breeding farm and racehorse owner in Hokkaido's Hidaka region, recognized for producing and standing top-class Japanese racehorses.

• Thoroughbred breeding (racehorse production)

  Breeding and raising Thoroughbred racehorses at facilities in Hokkaido and Ibaraki.

• Racehorse ownership

  Registered with the JRA as an owner under Big Red Farm Co., Ltd., racing horses under the 'Cosmo' prefix and others.

• Stallion station

  Standing and boarding notable stallions such as Gold Ship, Win Bright, and Danon the Kid.

• Retired horse of merit care

  Caring for retired horses such as Cosmo Bulk and Meiner Milano.

1. 1ビッグレッドファーム 公式bigredfarm.jp
2. 2Big Red Farm - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3ビッグレッドファーム - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org