Northern Farm (Japanese: ノーザンファーム) is a major Japanese horse breeding farm located in Abira, Hokkaido. The farm is part of the Shadai Group, and has continuously been the leading breeder of thoroughbred horses for 12 consecutive years from 2010 to 2021.
According to the Racing Post, it is the centre of the Japanese racehorse breeding industry and the Yoshidas that own Northern Farm are "the new world superpower of breeding". It is home to over 3,000 horses worth $100 million.
Contents
Timeline
Shadai Farm Hayakita era
1967 - Zenya Yoshida founds the Shadai Farm Hayakita in the town of Hayakita (now Abira).
1976 - Northern Taste arrives at the farm.
1980 - Shadai Diners Thoroughbred Club (future Shadai Thoroughbred Club) founded.
1988 - Japan Diners Thoroughbred Club (future Sunday Thoroughbred Club) founded.
1989 - Tony Bin arrives at the farm.
1991 - Sunday Silence arrives at the farm.
1993 - Zenya Yoshida passes away on August 13.
Northern Farm era
1994 - Shadai Farm Hayakita is rebranded as the Northern Farm in January.
1999 - One of their bred horses, Shiva, becomes the first Japanese-bred horse to win a foreign Grade 1 race.
1999 - Wins the Leading Breeder title for the first time. Since then, Northern Farm has consistently been either the breeding leader of Japan or in second place.
2005 - Deep Impact, one of the horses bred at the farm, becomes a Triple Crown Winner.
2010 - Apapane, one of the horses bred at the farm, becomes a Filly Triple Crown Winner.
2011 - Northern Farm purchases the Ten'ei Horse Park in Fukushima and renames it the Northern Farm Ten'ei. At the same time, Northern Farm pulled out of Shadai's Yamamoto Training Center in Miyagi.
2012 - Gentildonna, one of the horses bred at the farm, becomes a Filly Triple Crown Winner.
2018 - Almond Eye, one of the horses bred at the farm, becomes a Filly Triple Crown Winner.
2021 - Two horses bred at the farm became the first Japan-bred horses to win Breeders' Cup races—first Loves Only You in the Filly & Mare Turf, followed about two hours later by Marche Lorraine in the Distaff. Loves Only You went on the become the first Japan-bred to win an Eclipse Award in the US, specifically as champion female turf horse.
2025 - Forever Young, one of the horses bred at the farm, becomes the first Japan-bred horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Affiliated facilities and organizations
Northern Farm Airport Farm
Northern Horse Park
Northern Farm Yearling
Northern Farm Tenei
Northern Farm Shigaraki
Northern Racing
Sunday Thoroughbred Club
Sunday Racing
Notable horses bred
Horses are listed by year of birth.
Shadai Farm Hayakita era
Amber Shadai
Shadai Ivor
Gallop Dyna
Shadai Sophia
Let's Go Tarquin
Sakura Bakushin O
Vega
Air Groove
Fusaichi Concorde