Good Neighbours become good friends

[Horny Harry]

The "Good Neighbor Policy" Adopted by the JRA
and the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Sept. 18th, 2002
JRA Press Release
With the advent of the IT era, illegal gambling sites that operate across borders have been increasing daily since around 1998. This raises serious problems for horseracing circles not only in Japan, but also for the rest of the world. These illegal gambling operators make no financial contribution whatsoever to horseracing, nor to the governments that permit it. If left unchecked, they could damage the financial basis of the entire horseracing industry, thereby putting its very existence in jeopardy. A framework of international cooperation must be established to regulate cross-border gambling.
Today, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) have agreed to adopt a "good neighbor policy" to respect each other's jurisdiction on betting. Under this policy, neither party will accept bets from within, or target residents in the jurisdiction of the other party, nor will they solicit, market, or advertise their product in the other jurisdiction without prior authorization of that jurisdiction. This is the first time an international framework has been established as a means of fighting unauthorized, uncontrolled, and unlimited cross-border gambling.
The heads of both organizations will officially sign the "good neighbor policy" agreement during the Hong Kong International Races in December.
Press release by JRA President Mr. Masayuki Takahashi on the new policy
"Promoting the good neighbor policy will enable each country to secure its financial basis in the industry and eventually bring sound development worldwide. I strongly hope that all racing authorities around the world will adopt this policy in the future and a framework for international cooperation against illegal gambling will be established. I think it is highly significant that Asia has shown the way towards a bright future for horseracing worldwide."
Press by HKJC Chief Executive Mr. Lawrence Wong:
"There's a need for international cooperation and mutual respect among racing jurisdictions to fight against unauthorized and illegal operators who steal our racing product for their own gain. These illegal gambling operators make no qualitative improvement to horseracing or any financial contribution whatsoever to the governments that permit it. Our landmark agreement with the JRA is an excellent starting point for such international cooperation. We, the HKJC and the JRA, hope that eventually all members of the Asian Racing Federation and the International Racing Federation will join us in adopting this good neighbor policy."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Handy Harry]

The differences between Japan and the U.S. in horse racing

http://www.cablenet.ne.jp/~tomboys/air2.gif

I have been interested in horse racing since I was a high school student. I only have 8 years experience with horse racing in Japan. In the U.S., I have visited the horse track just two times, and I cannot say much about it. So I am going to write about some differences between Japan and the U.S in horse racing as simply as possible with my opinions.

Last weekend, I went to the Golden Gate Fields. Before I went there, I had checked the location on the Internet. I could find it very easily and it was not so far from my house, so I tried to go there. Of course, this was the first time for me to visit a horse track in the U.S.. I heard that in the U.S., horse racing is not popular with young people. But in Japan, it is popular with all of the generations. I was very shocked when I heard that story. When I visited the Golden Gate Fields, there were a lot of things I was surprised at.

http://www.euronet.nl/users/artnv/PageMill_Images/Terauchi.kl.jpg

First of all, on the one hand, we only have 5 kinds of tickets in Japan; for example, (Tansho: when you bet to Tansho, you win if your horse finishes first. Fukusho: when you bet to Fukusho, you win if your horse finishes first, second, or third. Umaren: to win, you must select in either order, the first two finishers of the designated race, etc.)

On the other hand, there were 12 kinds of tickets in the U.S., since I could not understand the value of the tickets or how to buy them, I asked someone how to buy the tickets, but I could not understand their English. It was very difficult for me to understand the technical terms in English.

You know, Japan is a detail-oriented country, so I can also say the same things about horse racing. For example, there are a lot of newspapers about horse racing in Japan, so I don't know how many kinds of them are there. They are written with a lot of colors to show information quickly.

But sometimes they are too detailed to see. We can see a lot of information about horses, their past records and their present conditions in really close detail on the newspaper. Even if you have no information, you can know about horses very well. And in the newspapers, many specialists freely tell what they want to say.
If they continue to make hits, they would gain fame. But actually, it is not so easy to continue to win. Although they sometimes give us good information, they usually betray us.

At the track, there is a place where horses walk around to keep in condition and raise their fighting spirits before the races. It is called the paddock. This is a very important place, because we can watch horses and survey which horses would be able to win the race. In my case, I usually make my decision in the paddock on which horse is likely to win, and which number I should bet on. I cannot prophesy which horses will win, but I can guess approximately. If you want to know more, I will secretly tell you later.

And also I could find the differences between Japan and the U.S. there. In Japan, I can see a lot of horse's names and some messages for jockeys on the fence. They mean, "Try your best, as we are supporting you." By watching these messages, jockeys and horses will be cheered up. But I could not see anything like that in the Golden Gate Fields. There were some people who were concerned with horses in the paddock. I think they are people who own their horses. It seemed to me that they really love their own horses. Because in Japan, nobody can enter the paddock except jockeys and people who lead horses.

Recently, some famous Japanese jockeys have been coming to the U.S. to improve their skills and try their abilities, just as Japanese baseball players do. I think it is difficult to play active parts in their jobs in a foreign country. But I admire to hear about their outstanding activities. Because hearing their news might not only make us happy but also give us great courage to live in the U.S..

http://www.fix.co.jp/kabuki/image/manjiro/koyaku2.gif

[Handy Harry]

Japanese superstar take striving to prove himself in U.S.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

DEL MAR ---- Japanese superstar jockey Yutaka Take has been working hard to establish himself as a significant part of Del Mar's riding colony as a part of his quest for a permanent spot in United States racing.

Though the international star has had only three winners, three seconds and two thirds, he's done that from only 29 rides ---- and while traveling abroad to ride for Japanese owners in Europe. That means he is winning at a 10.3 percent clip at Del Mar, as good a figure as some regular riders at Del Mar. His three winners have paid $22, $46 and $47.20.

The latter two were for Alexis Barba, who is in her first season as a trainer on her own.

Being the all-time riding great of his native Japan, Take knows what's expected of him each time that he gets aboard a horse. So the whippet slim rider continues to strive, and the ready grin that courses across his face is as bright as ever. Though he speaks little English, he is very verbal through his interpreter, Mikki Tsuge.

Take says he likes it in the United States and he hopes he can be the kind of rider here that he has been in Japan and in some European racing venues.

He recognizes that the Southern California riding colony is of the highest quality. In fact, he said, through Tsuge, "Because the standard of the jockeys' skill is so high and everyone in the race is fair, that I feel very safe riding in races."

The 31-year-old native of Kyoto, Japan, is used to much more impressive statistics than those acquired at Del Mar. For example, in 1999 Take won 178 races for purse money of $36,650,000, which is a close approximation of the conversion from yen to dollars. For his 12-year career, the 5-foot-7-inch rider, at the beginning of the year, had 1,736 victories and purse money of $350 million.

By way of comparison, the leading rider in the U.S. last year, Pat Day, won just more than $18 million in purses. The leading U.S. rider of all time, Chris McCarron, has won about $240 million in purses.

There are many differences between riding in Japan and riding at Del Mar, Take said. The obvious ones to him are the additions of ponies leading the runners onto the track and to the gate, and the presence of assistant starters in the gate. Those changes have been easy to adapt to.

He is cognizant of the fact that the style of racing ---- because speed is such a factor in America ---- requires him to stay alert to pace and be aware of his mount's position in a race.

"In Europe and Japan," he said, "you wait early and then when you come into the stretch that's when you start to shift gears."

In Japan, he continued, if he gets to the lead early, he feels his horse won't finish well.

"Here," he said, "the horses make it all the way at that pace."

Counter-clockwise racing in America has required a slight change in equipment for the rider. To accommodate that style, Take has made his left stirrup longer. And because he has found that he needs to drive his mounts throughout each race, he has adopted a lower style in his riding, a la Americans.

As for acceptance among his colleagues, Take said he has been welcomed warmly.

"At first," he said, "I only spoke to those jockeys I knew ---- Corey (Nakatani) and those I knew when they came to Japan to ride. Now I feel like I have blended into the crowd."

Will he stay in California?

"Things are starting to pick up," Take said. "I feel if I'm needed here I would want to stay as long as people would want my services as a jockey."

[imaufo]

http://www.patrick-barbe.fr/images/r_R&Ytake.jpg

Yutake Take with his wife Rioko at Deauville