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Originally Posted by saratogabrit
NYRA will need to provide windows with Japanese speaking clerks-otherwise the betting on the day will go into meltdown.
I reckon there were 10,000 Japanese who went to Longchamp to see Deep Impact. Longchamp provided 2 windows for Japanese bettors. Average length of each line was 200 during the day-possibly peaking at around 500.
Combine that with a possible Triple Crown attempt by Big Brown-thousands of 1st time bettors and once a year people...plus any protestors outside or inside the track....
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You think 10K Japanese strong are going to make a trip halfway around the world to watch and bet on a horse who made one career start over there?
I know they tend to be pretty obsessed with the sport and love to bet - but I doubt that horse built a huge fan base with a single odds-on maiden win.
Last year's 2-year-old champion in Japan came from a juvenile sale here - and they bought up many excellent athletes at juvenile sales this year - most of which I assume will be sent over there. I guess that is what happens when the value of the American dollar tanks.
Major stallions and top horses A.P. Indy, Unbridled's Song, and Fusaichi Pegasus all had a big chance to go to Japan and race - none of which did. Tomo Tsuramaki and Fusao Sekaguchi kept A. P. Indy and Fu Peg here - probably because both were outright Keeneland July Select yearling sales toppers - where UBS was, at the time, the most expensive horse ever purchased from a 2yo in training sale - but the day after the sale they found "a flake" in his ankle and the sale was voided.