You’ve spent thirty minutes agonizing over support cards. You’ve clicked through every training event for Special Week or Gold Ship. Then, suddenly, the "Target Race" notification pops up and you realize your Stamina is way too low for a 3200m slog. We’ve all been there. Understanding the list of races in Uma Musume isn't just about knowing when to run; it’s about not getting your career ended by a surprise distance jump.
Honestly, the game doesn't make it easy. It throws a calendar at you filled with G1s, G2s, and "Preps" that feel like a foreign language if you aren't a hardcore horse racing fan. But if you want to reach that URA Finals (or the newer Grand Masters and Project L'Arc scenarios), you need a roadmap.
The Hierarchy of Speed: G1, G2, and G3 Explained
In the world of Tracen Academy, not all races are created equal. You’ll see these labels constantly. Basically, the "G" stands for Grade.
G1 (Grade 1) is the big leagues. These are the races that give you the most fans, the best rewards, and those shiny trophies for your profile. If you're looking to hit a specific fan count to level up your unique skill, G1s are your best friend. Think of the Arima Kinen or the Japan Cup. These are the Super Bowls of the Uma Musume world.
G2 and G3 are the stepping stones. You’ve probably noticed they give fewer fans, but they are crucial for building "momentum" or hitting early-career goals. Some horse girls, like Haru Urara, have to grind these just to stay relevant because their G1 options are limited.
Then there’s Pre-Open (OP) and Debut races. These are the "tutorial" races at the start of your three-year training period. You can’t skip them. You just have to survive them.
The Triple Crown: The Only Races New Players Care About
If you're training a medium or long-distance girl (like Tokai Teio or Mejiro McQueen), you’re likely hunting the Triple Crown. It’s the ultimate flex. To get the "Triple Crown" title and the massive stat boosts that come with it, you have to win three specific races in your Classic (Year 2) year:
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- Satsuki Sho (April, 2000m)
- Tokyo Yushun / Japanese Derby (May, 2400m)
- Kikuka Sho (October, 3000m)
The jump from 2400m to 3000m is a "trainer killer." If you haven't been pumping Stamina or don't have a recovery skill like Maestro, the Kikuka Sho will humiliate you. I’ve seen countless "S" rank potential runs die because they ran out of gas at the final turn in Kyoto.
The Triple Tiara
Female-only horses (Fillies) have their own version called the Triple Tiara. It’s slightly different:
- Oka Sho (April, 1600m)
- Japanese Oaks (May, 2400m)
- Shuka Sho (October, 2000m)
Notice the distance variation here is much more manageable than the men's Triple Crown. It’s why training girls like Daiwa Scarlet often feels "smoother" early on.
Every G1 Race by Month
The list of races in Uma Musume follows a strict calendar. It never changes. You can set your watch by it. Here is a rough breakdown of when the "Must-Run" G1 races happen so you can plan your training rests.
Spring Season (Junior & Classic Years)
Early in the year, things are quiet. Then April hits.
- April: Satsuki Sho and Oka Sho. These are your first real tests.
- May: The NHK Mile Cup (for the sprinters) and the legendary Japan Derby.
- June: Yasuda Kinen and Takarazuka Kinen. The Takarazuka Kinen is a fan-voted race, and winning it feels incredible.
Autumn and Winter (The Gauntlet)
This is where the game gets mean. The schedule gets packed.
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- October: Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Kikuka Sho.
- November: Queen Elizabeth Cup, Japan Cup, and Mile Championship.
- December: The Arima Kinen.
The Arima Kinen is arguably the most famous race in the game. It’s 2500m at Nakayama, and it is the final boss of many horse girls' main stories. If you haven't won this, have you even really played Uma Musume?
Distance Categories: Where Does Your Girl Fit?
You can’t just enter every race. Well, you can, but you’ll lose. The list of races in Uma Musume is divided by distance, and your Uma has an "Aptitude" for each.
- Short (1200m - 1400m): Races like the Sprinters Stakes. These are all about raw Speed. Stamina is almost irrelevant here.
- Mile (1600m): The Yasuda Kinen and Victoria Mile. This is the most competitive bracket. You need a mix of Speed and Power.
- Medium (1800m - 2400m): Most G1s live here. This is the "standard" race length.
- Long (2500m - 3600m): The Tenno Sho (Spring) is the big one at 3200m. If you don't have at least 600-700 Stamina plus gold recovery skills, don't even bother.
The Dirt Problem
Most races are on Turf. However, a small portion of the list of races in Uma Musume takes place on Dirt.
If you’re training someone like Smart Falcon or Inari One, you’ll be looking at:
- February Stakes (February, 1600m)
- Champions Cup (December, 1800m)
- Tokyo Daishoten (Late December, 2000m)
Trying to run a turf specialist like Silence Suzuka on dirt is a recipe for finishing 16th. Don't do it unless you're trying to meme for a Twitter screenshot.
Legend Races and Limited Events
Outside of the standard training mode (Scenario), there are Legend Races. These are limited-time events where you face off against a "boss" version of a character, like a super-powered El Condor Pasa.
These aren't on the regular calendar. They usually pop up during celebrations or anniversaries. Winning these gets you character shards (shades), which is the only way for F2P players to "star up" their girls without spending a fortune on the gacha.
How to Optimize Your Race Schedule
Stop clicking "Next" blindly. Look at your "Target Races" in the character info screen. Those are mandatory. If you miss one, you get a penalty, and your career might just end right there.
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Expert trainers usually add 2-3 extra G1 races on top of the targets. Why? Because you need Skill Points (Pt). Winning a G1 gives a massive chunk of points that you can use to buy skills like Arc Maestro or Corner Proficiency.
A common mistake is "Over-racing." If you run three races in a row, your Uma gets tired. Her mood drops. She might get a negative status like "Skin Irritation." Two races in a row is fine. Three is risky. Four is just asking for a training failure.
Future-Proofing: The 2026 Meta
As we move into 2026, the JP (Japanese) version of the game has introduced even more specialized races and scenarios like the "U.A.F. Ready GO!" which changes how you value certain race wins. The Global version is catching up fast, so the "Clairvoyance" of knowing the Japanese schedule is your biggest advantage.
Keep an eye on the Champions Meeting schedule. These are monthly PvP events where the "list of races" is chosen by the developers. One month it might be a 1200m sprint in the rain, the next a 3000m marathon in the snow. You have to build a specific Uma just for that one race.
Next Steps for Your Training:
- Open your current training run and check the Schedule tab.
- Identify the next G1 race that matches your Uma's distance aptitude.
- Check if you have enough Stamina for that specific distance (use a calculator if you're hitting the 2500m+ range).
- Save your "Rest" for the turn immediately after a major race to recover motivation and energy.