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#1
12-29-2016, 07:32 AM
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Japanese Racing Experience
Very fortunate this past week to have been able to attend two of the biggest races on the Japanese calendar: Arima Kinen (approx US$5.5 million) at Nakayama Racecourse, and the Tokyo Daishoten (approx US$1.1 million) at Ohi Racecourse (aka Tokyo City Keiba). The latter is the lone international Group 1 race held at the "local" tracks, the NAR. Certainly a very different passion for racing than what we see in North America, with the tracks fully, and especially in general admission, uncomfortably packed. Had to watch the Arima Kinen on the big screen in the parade ring (paddock) and the Tokyo Daishoten on the course big screen, because it was impossible to make my way to find any standing area either at ground level or in the grandstand. In the earlier races I was able to squeeze my way through to find standing room on some stairs, but there was no chance of getting out there for the G2 and G1 races. Was very difficult to even get a few into the parade ring. There was room for more people also, and due to the race being on Christmas Day I think the attendance was "low" compared to previous years. Tokyo Racecourse can hold 150,000 people, so it will be interesting to check out the February Stakes...
At least there are no huge admission fees, with the standard rate of $2 and $1 (respectively) applying to all race days. All the betting machines in automatic where you insert a filled out betting slip. Each machine has a window beside it, where a "teller" will poke their head out to help if there are any issues. Nakayama was an interesting track, with an underground tunnel to the infield containing a large betting area and a playground for kids! Even when you arrive at the train station, they have 8 TV screens showing odds/results for all races as well as live video feeds. And, even with the mass amount of people, everything is completely organized, as is everything in this country, and there were no issues whatsoever with 100,000 people coming to or leaving the track. Complete opposite to the chaos when I attended the BC in 2005 at Belmont. The only real queues were at the betting machines for the big races, and at the info desk after the G1 where people were taking photocopies of their winning tickets! Below are some pictures... 
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#4
12-29-2016, 08:12 AM
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Thanks for posting this recap. Terrific pics. The JRA is a great example of what a centralized racing organization can do to grow the sport in a market with a myriad of gambling options.
Kanpai! Otis
__________________
"Good luck had just stung me, so to the race track I did go" - Levon Helm
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#6
12-29-2016, 10:35 AM
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they certainly love their horseracing in Japan. one thing i really appreciate about TVG is their coverage of Japanese racing. except for some reason they didn't show the Arima Kinen last weekend
 . Satono Diamond should be a force next year.
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#7
12-29-2016, 11:13 AM
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Road Trip
Looks like a blast. probably easy to see over the other patrons heads too.
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#10
01-05-2017, 06:46 AM
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Chapter three today at Kyoto Racecourse was a truly unique experience. Spent the morning in awe staring at famous Buddhist statues (google Sanjusangendo to see what I mean) before hopping on a train traveling into the countryside, where suddenly the grandstand appeared out of nowhere as we approached the station. Nothing overly special compared to the previous two tracks, but it has the lone circular parade ring in Japan, a large pond in the infield, and a great undulation (both rise and drop) approaching and on the far turn. It is also much smaller---"only" 54k was the most that packed for one of the G1 features in the fall (79k attended the Tenno Sho in May) and the crowd today was much less than that (midweek and not in the Tokyo area) while still being quite full. Made it much more comfortable to move around and watch the races, including a G3 featuring a few who have regularly contested G1s. Comfort didn't seem to help the wallet, though, as these trips are becoming quite costly from a wagering perspective...
   
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#11
01-05-2017, 06:47 AM
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#5 Fiero (finished 3rd): 3 times placed in G1 miles and contested the Hong Kong Mile in both 2014 and 2015.
#6 Air Spinel (winner): 3rd in the Japanese St. Leger and 4th in the Japanese Derby last year. Replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih9REtf6810 
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#12
02-23-2017, 02:22 PM
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Final episode this past Sunday at the gigantic Tokyo Racecourse, with a grandstand that makes Belmont Park look like Belterra Park. Took in both the Hyacinth Stakes and G1 February Stakes. Now 4 for 4 Epicharis (#2, below) took out the former event and now has an entry into the Kentucky Derby. Strong and powerful type who hit the line well to win on the inside of the frontrunner, but copped the perfect trip off some easy fractions, finishing in a time 2.7 sec slower than the older horses two races later. He's off to the UAE Derby next with no confirmation about his Churchill plans. Foggy Night (#1) may also head to Dubai and he's another to keep an eye on. Tapit x Champagne d'Oro running in only his second start, was studdish in the parade ring before breaking poorly and not handling the initial 100m or so on turf. Circled well into the aforementioned slow pace to finish 4th. With that breeding it will be interesting to see him progress. Either way they are both good horses that shouldn't be taken lightly in international races. Overall a really good experience visiting these tracks in Japan, and North American racing can learn a lot from the JRA and how they do things!
   
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#13
03-01-2017, 10:39 PM
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nice job!!!! congrats!
I don't see any blondes in the crowd though!
__________________
Support your local Re-run or horse rescue organization. https://www.rerunottb.com/:)
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#14
03-01-2017, 11:17 PM
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You are right. Can't be better bred than Foggy Night. Be interesting if he shows up on this side of the pond.
http://gainesway.com/expensive-tapit...-winner-tokyo/
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