The horse racing was held in Butokuden in the Imperial Palace till the mid Heian period, but it was sometimes held in an angu (temporary lodging built to accommodate an Imperial visit), a rikyu (detached palace), a residence of kugyo (the top court officials) and precincts of a shrine.
平安時代中期までは宮中の武徳殿で行われていたが、行宮・離宮・公卿の邸宅・神社の境内などで臨時の競馬が行われることもあった。