Worst horse in Japan?

[imaufo]

Deplorable nag big winner despite 100th loss

Despite the 100th failure in a row since her debut in 1998, the 7-year-old filly received thunderous applause from horseracing fans who packed the Kochi Keiba racetrack here.

Many of the fans were moved to tears saying, "It was an emotional race."Even Kochi Gov. Daijiro Hashimoto was on hand to honor the horse for her never-say-die spirit.


http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/image/200312/14/20031214p2a00m0dm015000c.jpg

KOCHI -- Haruurara, now one of the most famous and popular racehorses in Japan paradoxically because of 99 starts without a win, failed to capture first place in her 100th race on Sunday.
Fans cheer on the wretched racehorse.


"I really wanted her to win," said Dai Muneishi, Haruurara's trainer who watched Sunday's race. "I think she'll win sometime in the future."Haruurara finished ninth among 10 horses in Sunday's Race 7.

About 5,000 fans jammed the track, including spectators who came on a Kochi tour designed especially to cheer on the hapless horse. (Mainichi and wire stories, Japan, Dec. 14, 2003)


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Track honors world's worst racehorse



Haruurara (4) extended her losing streak to 95 by finishing fifth on Sept. 28. The record was extended to 96 on Monday.

Haruurara logos will be attached to slips used during Monday's races, when the horse attempts to extend its futility record to 96 during the third race on the card.

Haruurara has done much to help the debt-ridden regional racing track with her record for hopelessness, drawing huge crowds, hefty bets and whopping sales of T-shirts featuring its image to a track that has been struggling financially for years.



http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/image/200310/14/20031014p2a00m000030000c.jpg

KOCHI -- Haruurara, billed here as the world's worst racehorse after 95 starts without a win, will grace betting slips issued by the Kochi Racing Association, officials said Monday.



"It'd be great if the fans' liking for Haruurara led to its first win," a KRA official said.

KRA officials said betting slips will be stamped with black, red and blue Haruurara logos in the shape of a heart for Monday's races. The association has yet to decide whether the stamps will be a permanent step. (Mainichi Shimbun, Oct. 13, 2003)

**************************************************




Deplorable nag a big winner off the course




KOCHI -- If at first you don't succeed, keep on failing.



http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/image/200307/23/20030723p2a00m000033000c.jpg

Mainichi Shimbun

Stabler Kensuke Fujiwara is also dreaming of the day when Haruurara wins a race.

Haruurara, a 7-year-old filly registered with the Kochi Keiba horseracing association, has got to be one of the biggest nags ever to step on a racetrack, having never won one of its 90 starts and boasting of only four second placings.

But the hapless horse's never-say-die attitude has turned it into a thoroughbred as far as punters are concerned, which in turn has course officials burdened with waves of red ink going "rah, rah" over Haruurara.

Haruurara's trainer says the filly will continue running regardless of what order it passes the post.

Haruurara made its debut in November 1998. It's a jumpy horse that gets extraordinarily nervous at race time. It hasn't placed since August of last year.

Officials from the National Association of Racing, the body that overseas horseracing in regional areas throughout Japan, say they've never heard of a racehorse with a record as bad as Haruurara's.

That doesn't mean the wretched racehorse is planned for pasture, yet.

"My mates tell me all the time that I should just get rid of her," Haruurara's trainer Dai Muneishi says, adding that the horse's owner remains a big fan. "But I want to keep putting her into races as long as she keeps wanting to run."

While Haruurara's efforts on the track leave a bit to be desired, the fearless filly has proved a real winner off the course. Whether they want to see her finally break the drought and notch up a win, or fancy the chance of picking up a pretty packet if they bet on Haruurara, punters can't get enough of the horse.

Kochi course officials point to Haruurara's popularity as being behind the significant difference in the amount of bets laid when it runs. On July 5, the course's second race, which included Haruurara in the field, attracted 3.2 million yen in bets, but the previous meet's second race, sans the nag, only earned 2.28 million yen.

"Who cares whether she keeps on losing, you've got to admire her attitude to stick it out," Takeshi Hamada, a self-professed Haruurara fan, says. "I reckon she'll win her next race."

Kochi officials are getting used to losses like Haruurara's. The course has lost so much money, it is a staggering 8.12 billion yen in debt. It's already built up a budget shortfall so far this fiscal year. But hopeless Haruurara's chutzpah has given hope to course officials that they'll be able to overcome their own woes. And Haruurara could still end up a winner in the end.

"We'll take pride in her losing record," a course official says. "And apply to have it recognized by the Guinness Book of Records." (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, July 23, 2003)





Link (http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/archive/200307/23/20030723p2a00m0dm016000c.html)

[imaufo]

KOCHI -- Top jockey Yutaka Take will try to lead a hapless horse to its first win in over 100 starts during a race here on March 22, officials said.

Expectations are high that under the expert guidance of Take, Haruurara, one of the most infamous and popular racehorses in Japan, will finally break its drought.

"I am excited about the race and am really looking forward to the event," said the 34-year-old Take, who belongs to the Japan Racing Association.

Horseracing officials in Kochi said that Take had been booked to ride another horse on March 22, but he accepted their request that he mount Haruurara.

Take has held the title for the most race wins in a year some 13 times. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Jan. 26, 2004)

[imaufo]

When will spring come for Haru Urara?


http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/topics/image/t40018_01.jpg

Haru Urara, an 8-year-old mare, has lost again. That's 105 times in a row.

The name Haru Urara (pronounced hah-roo oo-rah-rah), in Japanese, conjures up heavenly, blue-skied days of warm spring, beautiful days bursting with the fragrance and color of cherry trees in full blossom. For Haru Urara, however, spring is no where in sight. And yet, she is currently the most famous racehorse in Japan.

Haru Urara is based at the tiny Kochi Racetrack, located in Kochi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in southern Japan. Since her debut in 1998, Haru Urara has lost all 105 of her races and accumulated a mere $9,682 in earnings. She currently holds the record for most losses.

Last year, on Dec. 14 at Kochi Racetrack, Haru Urara ran in the "Never Give Up, Haru Urara 100th Commemorative Race." She lost it, and, in so doing, secured her claim to nationwide fame.

******


http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/topics/image/t40018_03.jpg


Local racetracks, those venues run by city and prefectural governments as opposed to the Japan Racing Association(JRA), are in the red throughout the country. Everywhere, tracks are in danger of going under. In the past three years alone, six racetracks have been forced to shut down.
Kochi Racetrack is no exception. With accumulated debts of some $74 million, it has been forced to cut personnel. Its remaining workers have suffered pay cuts. At long last, however, the racetrack has been given a moment of reprieve.

Though the track is in the black for the current fiscal year, the Kochi prefectural government, which oversees track management, has its back to the wall. One more dip into the red and Kochi Racetrack will be forced to close.

The sight of Haru Urara bravely racing, only to lose again and again, has captured the hearts of Japanese, themselves battling rough economic times and facing the everpresent threat of the ax. To those in the racing industry it's definitely a strange phenomenon -- "Haru Urara Fever."

A record 10,000 fans (three times that of last year) attended Haru Urara's first race of the year on Jan. 2 (She finished in seventh place). The day's turnover topped $1 million. Normally, attendance averages 1,000 people per day.

To be sure, all those connected with Kochi Racetrack look to Haru Urara to be their saving goddess of grace.




Japan's No. 1 Yutaka Take to take reins


Haru Urara is scheduled to race on March 22, in her 106th race. This time, however, she will be paired with Japan's top rider, Yutaka Take.
On the 22nd, Kochi racetrack hosts the Kurofune Sho (Black Ship Prize) a Grade III "exchange race" that is open to both horses from the stables of local tracks and those racing from JRA stables. In the Kurofune Sho, Yutaka Take will be riding Nobo True of the Ritto-based trainer Hideyuki Mori.

In JRA races, if a horse has not won in the three years following its debut it is no longer permitted to race. Haru Urara's 100-loss record would simply not be possible.

Haru Urara comes from good stock, with Emperor's Cup champion Nippo Teio as her sire and a Lucky Sovereign mare as her dam. Her unflagging determination in the face of loss after loss has reverberated deep in the hearts of her fans, who come out to watch her try yet again. This try-try-again attitude is the key to her popularity, and, in the racing world, a phenomenon only possible because it is local racing.

The wall is high, nearly insurmountable, between local racing and JRA racing in Japan and there are few opportunities for a locally based horse to be ridden by a JRA rider. Days on which are held "exchange races," such as the Kurofune Sho, however, offer such opportunities. On these days, JRA jockeys are free to ride horses from the local stables. The Kurofune Sho is perhaps Haru Urara's only chance to be ridden by Yutaka Take.

No one knows what kind of race he will ride. But to be sure, Take will give it his best, a ride sure to please the fans. Nevertheless, hopes for Haru Urara's first win mustn't be too high.




Haru Urara -- the courage to carry on


Haru Urara's losing streak first became known as a result of an article in the local Kochi Shimbun on June 13 of last year. The story, which was released by the racetrack, took up an entire page, told of her losing streak, at that time, 88 races in a row.
In racing, winning is everything and everyone does their utmost to notch even just one win. In racing, winning is life. Victory is virtuous and losing is taboo. The headline of that article, "Let's win, even if it's just once," hit home with readers. It hit home hard.

Kochi Racetrack suffers financially just like other municipally run tracks. The number of runners and prize money as well as other allowance earnings have dwindled. Drastic pay cuts have been made to track personnel. Neck and neck with the end, everyone fights to survive.

The article turned the national spotlight on Haru Urara. Her story was further taken up by sports newspapers, television news shows, and, at the end of the last year, by even NHK, the highly respected national network. Haru Urara -- she's a different kind of hero.

"Since then, we've gotten letters from fans every day, hundreds of them. Everyone says, 'Seeing Haru Urara run has given me courage.' We, too, are all deeply moved," says her trainer, Dai Tsuneishi.



"Yutaka mustn't win!" says expert

There are hopes that, paired with Yutaka Take, Haru Urara will notch her first win. Oddly enough, an economist cautions against it, saying, "Haru Urara must not win!" because, he explains, "She is the shining star of all the losers."
Japan's current economic situation is grim. In the midst of the slow progress of economic reforms, the collapse of companies continues. So does, fierce downsizing.

Amongst businesses and salaried workers, there is a clear division between the winners and the losers. And, overall, those getting the short end of the stick are the vast majority.

'Haru Urara may have lost today, but, just maybe, she'll win tomorrow.' It's that kind of belief in tomorrow, that faith in tomorrow, that people hold on to in order to carry on. It's the belief of nearly all salaried workers and it's the reason Haru Urara has become a symbol of hope. If she should win people will have nothing to pin their hopes on.

She is the silent support of all those workers, and for their sake, for the sake of all the workers struggling in the economic dredges right now, it'd be better to see things end with, 'Well, we tried. It's too bad.'

The more Haru Urara loses the more attention she gets. Her losing has had a positive effect on things financially at Kochi.

A variety of "Haru Urara goods" are now on the market and sales are brisk. Racing tickets of bets placed on Haru Urara are being sold as good-luck charms to ward off traffic accidents, as, in Japanese, the expression "ataranai" or "won't get hit" describes not only a safe ride but, in racing, a losing wager.

A strand of hair from her tail is said to protect one from company downsizing, and at Kochi Racetrack, a copy of the CD, "The Song of Haru Urara - Time After Time" sells for $8 a piece. Other items, including T-shirts, are going like hotcakes.

There is also talk of a movie and already numerous books of her story have appeared. Haru Urara has been awarded the Kochi City Tourism Association's "Tourism Service Award" and with it, 200 kg of carrots.

[Seabiscuit]

They should have a match race with Silent Witness and Haru Urara.

[masun]

The HKJC should hold an international race for the perennial losers and invite Haru Urara to participate. I am sure a lot of fans will come from Japan to cheer for the horse.

[Scarper]

So the horse is owned by then Japan Horseracing Assoc.!!

Seems like the big boys supporting the grass roots of the industry. but obviously in a completely misguided way. Insanity. i wonder how many other complete no hopers the JHA have running around for the sake of it?

[imaufo]

5,000 people turned up to watch her fail for the 100th time.

8,000 arrived to see her 101st defeat.

There are now Haru-urara Cds and T-shirts and other merchandise.

It reached fever point on Monday however when one of the world’s most famous jockeys, and Japanese household name Yutake Take, took the ride in an attempt to make start number 106 a winner.

The race was late afternoon but the track was full before the first. She started odds-on favourite.

Kirin Brewery Company in Japan is featuring her in their commercials. Her merchandise can now be bought in a department store chain.

Japan’s Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi has even given her credit saying, “It's a nice story that gives people hope that they shouldn't give up, even if they lose.”

Her trainer Dan Muneishi has embraced his horse’s new found fame and has used it for good, certainly for the good of Haru-urara.

"Racehorses are destroyed when they don't win. But to my way of thinking, a horse is also a living being, and it's inexcusable to destroy it at the mere whim of humans," he said.

Haru-urara’s future seems assured now with retirement on a farm planned. Just when that will be however is anybody’s guess. Muneishi recognises she now “belongs to the fans” and intends to keep her racing.

As for Yutake Take and Haru-urara on Monday at the packed Kochi Race Course? They finished 11th.


By: Racenet - Wednesday, 24 March 2004

[imaufo]

http://www.asianracing.nu/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1797

posted by Hobbes

[Seabiscuit]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/040512/ids_photos_en/r2106358811.jpg&e=19

Now you can buy the Haru-urara Bra

[Handy Harry]

Great...Ill add it to my collection of haru drink bottles, monogramed towels and tea cosy. :p

[cheesebeast]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040512/i/r2106358811.jpg

[imaufo]

KOCHI -- Haruurara, one of Japan's most popular -- and most hapless -- racehorses will gallop for the last time as early as March next year, it has been learned.

Sources at the Japan Racing Association said Haruurara, who has lost 112 times in a row since debuting at the Kochi racecourse, would end her career and race for the last time with top jockey Yutaka Take in the saddle.

A formal announcement on Haruurara's retirement was expected to be made by her owner, Mihoko Ansai, after a race on Tuesday with Haruurara competing against her brother and sister.

Ansai said an informal agreement had already been reached with Take to ride Haruurara in her last race.

"I want her to get her first win before she retires, and I want to prepare her properly to mark the end of her career," Ansai said.

After her retirement, plans have reportedly been made to send Haruurara to a tourist horse-riding facility in Urakawa, Hokkaido. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Aug. 3, 2004)