Yanagawa Farm

Yanagawa Farm (ヤナガワ牧場) is a Japanese Thoroughbred breeding farm located in Hidaka, Hokkaido, in the former Monbetsu area. It was founded in 1967 by Masao Yanagawa, a veterinarian who started with 14 broodmares in Biratori, Hokkaido. The farm is a limited company and remains family-run, now led by the third generation, Masayuki Yanagawa. It is known for producing top-class racehorses, including Sunrise Bacchus, Copano Rickey, and Kitasan Black. The farm operates a main facility in Monbetsu and a branch, Kokubu Farm, where night grazing is practiced. With around 45 broodmares and 10 employees, it is considered a mid-sized farm in the Hidaka region.

Yanagawa Farm was founded in 1967 in Biratori, Hokkaido, by Masao Yanagawa, a veterinarian who worked for the Hidaka Light Horse Agricultural Cooperative. He started with 14 broodmares. His eldest son, Masakatsu Yanagawa, born in 1943, was studying veterinary medicine at Azabu University but left to help his father. Around the same time, Yoshio Nishikawa, founder of the entertainment agency Shinei Production, established Hokusei Farm and invited Masao to be its manager. Masao declined and sent his son Masakatsu instead. Masakatsu managed Hokusei Farm successfully, producing horses like Fujino Parthia and Three Giants. After about ten years, Masao's second son, who had been helping at Yanagawa Farm, died suddenly at 27, and the farm faced difficulties. Masakatsu returned to Yanagawa Farm to save it. Despite its smaller scale compared to Hokusei Farm, Masakatsu leveraged his connections and received a broodmare from Nishikawa. He gradually expanded the farm, establishing a two-farm system with a main farm in Monbetsu and a branch in Biratori. By the time Masakatsu became the second-generation president, the farm had around 50 broodmares and produced many notable horses, including Gakuen Tobeat (2nd in 1988 Kikuka Sho), Real Sapphire (1989 Flower Cup), Higashi Majorca (1992 Hakodate Kinen), Pride Kim (2002 Zen Nihon Nisai Yushun), and Sunrise Bacchus (2007 February Stakes). In 2012, Masayuki Yanagawa, son of Masakatsu, became the third-generation president. The farm implemented night grazing, which contributed to the success of horses like Copano Richard and Copano Rickey. Copano Rickey won the 2014 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and multiple GI/JpnI races, becoming the all-time leader in GI-class wins with 11. Kitasan Black, produced in 2012, won seven GI races including the 2015 Kikuka Sho and the 2017 Arima Kinen. Other recent stars include Ares Barows (2018 CBC Sho, Kitakyushu Kinen) and T O Keynes (2021 Champions Cup). The farm continues to operate with about 45 broodmares and 10 employees.

• 2021

  T O Keynes wins the Champions Cup.

• 2018

  Ares Barows wins the CBC Sho and Kitakyushu Kinen.

• 2017

  Kitasan Black wins the Arima Kinen in his final race, with 7 GI wins total.

• 2015

  Kitasan Black wins the Kikuka Sho.

• 2014

  Copano Richard wins the Takamatsunomiya Kinen; Copano Rickey wins the February Stakes.

• 2012

  Masayuki Yanagawa becomes third-generation president.

• 2007

  Sunrise Bacchus wins the February Stakes, the farm's first JRA GI victory.

• 2002

  Pride Kim wins the Zen Nihon Nisai Yushun.

• 1992

  Higashi Majorca wins the Hakodate Kinen.

• 1989

  Real Sapphire wins the Flower Cup.

• 1988

  Gakuen Tobeat finishes second in the Kikuka Sho.

• 1967

  Founded by Masao Yanagawa in Biratori, Hokkaido.

Mid-sized, family-run Thoroughbred breeding farm specializing in producing GI-winning racehorses.

Product categories. Thoroughbred racehorses · Broodmares · Yearlings

1. 1Yanagawa Farm - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2ヤナガワ牧場 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org