Where is Dark Shadow now?
Hokkaido, Yushun Village AERU / Reservation required / confirmed September 19, 2026
Dark Shadow now lives at Urakawa Yushun Village AERU in Hokkaido, Japan. Foaled in 2007, this stallion is 19 years old as of 2026. Note that a reservation or an enquiry is needed before visiting.
Yushun Village AERU keeps at least 4 other retired racehorses that this site has confirmed.
Where this horse lives was confirmed on September 19, 2026 from published sources (4 references). Farms change their visiting arrangements, so check the farm's own site or social media before you travel.
| Where it lives now | Urakawa Yushun Village AERU |
|---|---|
| Location | Hokkaido |
| Visiting | Open to visitors with a reservation |
| Foaled / age | foaled in 2007 (age 19) |
| Sex | stallion |
| Tags | Graded stakes winner／Easy-going／Meritorious horse |
| Listed or supported by | Listed on the Racehorse Hometown Information Centre |
| Location confirmed | September 19, 2026 |
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Can you visit Dark Shadow?
A tourist ranch open for visits year-round, where individuals may come directly (only groups need to contact the farm by the day before their visit). The riding grounds including the paddocks are open 7:30-16:00 and the inside of the stables 9:00-16:00, and these hours must be kept strictly. Touching the horses or feeding them is prohibited, as is driving into the stable area, smoking on the premises, and flying or filming with a drone. Visits may be called off depending on the weather or the horses' condition.
Dark Shadow's page on the Racehorse Hometown Information Centre
Other horses at Yushun Village AERU: Suzuka Phoenix, Nakayama Festa, Oken Bruce Lee, Meiner Kitz
Dark Shadow's racing career
Two graded wins in 2011, the Epsom Cup and the Mainichi Okan, plus second in that year's Tenno Sho (Autumn).
Dark Shadow after racing
After racing he spent years as a lead pony at Niigata Racecourse, arriving at AERU in November 2024. He learns quickly, which is why he teaches beginners now. Sitting on the back of a graded winner is not something you can do just anywhere.
How to support Dark Shadow
- Go and visit (Open to visitors with a reservation)
- Riding experience
- Staying overnight
Official accounts that post updates: X, Instagram, YouTube
Simply turning up at the farm helps too: admission and anything you buy there goes towards upkeep. Five ways in are set out in how to support a retired racehorse.
Where this information comes from
The 4 sources consulted as of September 19, 2026. They mix published information from the farms and organisations that confirmed the horse's whereabouts with material used to trace its racing career.
- https://uma-furusato.com/search_horse/entry-64980.html
- https://uma-furusato.com/search_farm/1357.html
- https://www.loveuma.jp/post/aeru-241128
- https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/db64746296389cf3b6a2da0c4f9837e575d109cb
Retired racehorses near Dark Shadow
See all retired racehorses in Hokkaido120 horses listedRetired racehorses at Yushun Village AERU5 horses listedHorses tagged "Graded stakes winner": Danburite, T's Dunk, Dance Director, T Half, Turbulence
Horses here foaled in 2007: Stella Lead, Tosen Crazy, Kyoei Ashura, Hiruno d'Amour, Kisakita, Rouge Victory and more (10 on this site)