A day at the races

[Horny Harry]

The King of Sports .... in the Land of Emperors
By Barbara Bayer (reporter for The Japan Times)
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Some 15 years ago, I found racing -- or perhaps you could say that it found me. Free tickets to the international Japan Cup took me to Tokyo Racecourse and marked the beginning of a continuing affair with the horses.
I don't know what it was that captured me that first time at the track. Maybe it was the incredible energy of it all, the roaring crowd, the thundering hooves. Maybe it was my beginner's luck, the easy money, the simple fun of it. It could have been being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people and suddenly realizing that no one, not one person, was staring at me; nor once did I hear the despised word gaijin.

That day I experienced a freedom I hadn't felt in a long time, a camaraderie with every person in the stands and a connection to the foreign runners and riders in the big race. We were in this together. I felt a part of it all.
Racing is many things to many people: a sport, a hobby, a profession, a passion, an addiction -- or a bit of each. It is thrilling, and tragic, and, at times, downright boring. But something about it gets under your skin. It's what they call "the romance," the extremes of emotion that eventually blend bittersweet. It becomes a part of you, for no better reason sometimes than that you were there. I'd like to offer the reader a primer on what is known in Japan as "the king of sports."
Japanese racing is big. It's huge. The biggest, especially in money terms, is the national-level racing organized by the Japan Racing Association, an affiliate of the agriculture ministry. There is also locally organized racing, which some claim is the heart of the sport. JRA racing, however, is its lifeblood.

Total bets placed in 2001 on the JRA's 3,448 races were nearly 3.3 trillion YEN -- compared to only 529 billion YEN from more than 22,000 races at local tracks. JRA racing brings in more than 50 percent of Japan's entire betting revenue. Last year, close to 10 million people visited the JRA's 10 racecourses. Purses, too, are among the world's biggest, with some winners taking home 250 million YEN.
The first modern horse races in Japan were held by foreigners, mostly English, in 1861 in Yokohama. Betting tickets were approved by the government in 1906, but racing did not receive its official go-ahead until 1923. In 1954, the administration of racing was totally entrusted to the government and the JRA was established. Slowly, with management practices now studied the world over, racing grew to new heights in the '90s, peaking in 1996-97. It was then that the JRA's successful marketing tactics helped draw women to the sport, and with them racing acquired a cleaner, fresher, more wholesome image. Then, too, young jockey heartthrob Yutaka Take played a major part in keeping the women interested, often attracting gaggles of screaming groupies.
In terms of attendance, the record for a single day, over 196,000 people, was set at the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, GI) in Tokyo in 1990. The yearly attendance peaked in 1996, at more than 14.1 million. The record for money wagered on a single race, 87.5 billion YEN, was set the same year on the Arima Kinen (Grand Prix, GI) run at Nakayama in Chiba Prefecture. Annual turnover peaked the following year, at more than 4 trillion YEN.
Racing in Japan traditionally had a strong gambling image, but the boom years and increasing success of Japanese horses abroad did much to dilute this as new types of fans were drawn to the sport. The racetrack is now a popular date venue and the scene of family picnics.

That very diversification of interests, though, has detracted from the welcome anonymity I experienced in '86. The racing sheets no longer monopolize racegoers' attention. The enthusiasm, however, is still there. Fans often camp out for days at the track entrance before a big race to bag a choice spot around the winners' circle. Sometimes it's hard to tell who has the best camera equipment, the pros at the finish line or the fans in the stands. Their devotion impresses even veteran British turf reporters.
Of course, the fans fuel Japan's racing success, but the JRA provides the stage and tightly manages its players. Unique among horseracing countries are Japan's two training centers, Miho in the east, in Ibaraki Prefecture, and Ritto in Shiga Prefecture in the west, where all JRA-registered horses must train for a specified period before a race, in full view of hundreds of reporters who record comments and data for publication.
The Japanese racing fan is an avid student of data, and insistent on detail. The groans and cheers and dark mutterings emitted in unison from the stands during a race reflect just how clued-in the fans are concerning each horse's running style and each jockey's likely strategy.
There are 233 JRA trainers, all male, and each is allotted a maximum of 20 stalls in his stable, though a total of 60 horses are permitted to be registered and rotated between the training centers and outside private farms and training grounds. The centers' state-of-the-art facilities provide equal opportunity for all, but a tangle of rules and regulations is often criticized by those who feel it ties their hands and dulls the competitive edge. Also criticized are the powerful labor unions, which dictate, for one, stable workers' hours -- often to the horses' detriment.

The current standouts among the trainers are Kazuo Fujisawa at Miho, and the young Hideyuki Mori at Ritto. Both considered mavericks, Fujisawa has topped Japan's trainers for wins for the past seven years. The internationally minded Mori fielded Japan's first entrant in the Kentucky Derby, its first group-race winner overseas, and the first Japan-based horse to win a Group I race abroad.
For those unfamiliar with the terms, the high points of a racing year are its group (in Japan they are called grade) races. Horses move up by earnings through Grade III to II, and then to the top, Grade I. Races in Japan are held as a rule on weekends only. Grade I races, with two exceptions, are held on Sundays, as the next-to-last race on what is usually a 12-race card.
Racing is year-round in Japan, with the year neatly divided into a spring and fall slew of top-level races at the main tracks in Tokyo, Chiba, Hyogo and Kyoto prefectures. In the summer, races move to regional courses in Hokkaido, Niigata, Fukushima, Nagoya and Fukuoka prefectures. Two-year-olds debut in the summer, with an eye to the following year's classics, races open only to 3-year-olds.
There are high points even among the top-ranking Grade I races, the highest being the so-called Triple Crown, the three top-level races run to decide the supreme 3-year-old. Japan modeled its Triple Crown after England's, with the Satsuki Sho (equivalent of the 2,000 Guineas, GI) first in April, followed by the Tokyo Yushun in May and the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, GI) in October. Only five horses have captured Japan's Triple Crown: St. Lite in 1941, Shinzan (1964), Mr. C.B. (1983), Symboli Rudolf (1984) and Narita Brian in 1994.

Though fillies are permitted to race alongside the colts, they also have their own Triple Crown. The all-female classics consist of the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas, GI) run in April, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, GI) in May and the new Shuka Sho (GI) in October.
The Tenno Sho, or Emperor's Cup (GI), is perhaps the most prestigious Japanese race after the Tokyo Yushun. It is run twice a year, at different courses and over different distances. Following this in prestige, if not popularity, is the Arima Kinen in December, a grand finale that brings together many of the old favorites and has been the stage for many great rivalries. With part of the field selected by fan ballot, it's a race built on memories. Often a horse's last race before retirement, it is by far the Japanese fans' most beloved.
Despite the affection bestowed on such favorite races and the stars they produce or spotlight, Japanese racing fans have reserved their highest respect for a different kind of star, the star that shines on foreign turf.
Japan's quest for victory abroad, its yearning for worldwide recognition, started in 1958, with a horse named Hakuchikara, the first Japanese horse to race overseas. It wasn't until 1969, however, that hearts were captured across the board by jockey Yuji Nohira, as he and Speed Symboli (by Royal Challenger, IRE) made the trip to England's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (GI) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI) in France.

Though Nohira didn't win, his experience was instrumental in changing the face of Japanese racing. It helped turn the eyes of its horsemen outward to training and healthcare methods practiced in the heartlands of thoroughbred racing. And, more importantly, Nohira impressed the public and the country's horsemen with his all-embracing openness, humanity and eagerness to incorporate new techniques and thoughts.
However, not all were willing to throw the doors open to the outside world. Understandably, Japan sought to protect its racing industry -- above all its breeders. Races remained closed to foreign-bred stock until 1971, after which an increasing number of races were gradually opened. Today, 55 percent of all races, and more than 86 percent of all graded races, are open to foreign-born horses.
Meanwhile, the quest for success abroad continued -- at home. In 1981, the JRA, with the aim of raising the level of racing, decided to bring the world to Japan, with the launch of the Japan Cup (GI), an invitational open to an international field. For the first decade, foreign contenders flaunted their superiority, with only two wins by Japanese horses. The foreign domination was broken in 1992, with the start of a three-year streak of victories by the home team.
The next years saw increasing internationalization. From 1994, foreign riders were granted short-term licenses to ride among the Japanese jockeys, who like the breeders, undoubtedly feared the competition, this time for hotly contested rides.
Foreign-based entrants are now permitted in an increasing number of races, currently 19. The distance and great cost involved in bringing horses to Japan, however, means that few make the trip to all but the three invitationals, the Japan Cup, the Japan Cup Dirt (GI) and the Nakayama Grand Jump (GI).
Now, the long-sought victories abroad have begun to be realized. The first group race was won by a Japanese-trained horse, in Hong Kong, in 1995; the first Group I by a Japanese jockey in 1994; the first Group I by a Japanese-trained horse, in France, in 1998. El Condor Pasa (USA, by Kingmambo, USA) came closest to capturing the coveted Arc in 1999, with a strong second-place finish.
Still, records and precedents remain to be set. Barriers at home do remain. Foreigners, unless residents of Japan, are still barred from owning horses, and foreign trainers are not permitted to take advantage of the training centers. The most prestigious and richest races have only recently opened to permit a limited number of foreign-bred horses into their hallowed ranks. However, there are still no foreign-based runners allowed in the classics.
Nonetheless, the obstacles to truly international, globally competitive racing are slowly crumbling, and many believe it is only a matter of time before they too are gone. Racing depends on international cooperation and bonds of blood to grow and remain strong, and many in the industry feel it is only fair to give back some of what Japan has received from abroad.
Japanese racing is on the threshold of exciting change. Already, the visitor to the racetrack is looking at a much more international racing scene than 15 years ago. The thrills and camaraderie are still to be had. However, an ever-fairer, increasingly global attitude toward its most important elements, the horses and horsemen, means foreign visitors today can, more truly, feel a part of it all -- a part of all of it.
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Copyright©1997-2002 The Japan Association for International Horse Racing. All Rights Reserved.

[imaufo]

Think racing is the rage in Japan? Bet on it
Industry rebounded after sharp decline in 1970s and '80s By KIRSTEN HAUKEBO, The Courier-Journal
November 14, 1999

Fans packed into the Toyko Racecourse on Japan Derby day in June. Racing fans started lining up days before the event to be among the first in line for admission. A crowd of 173,340 jammed into the grandstand for the race - 22,289 more than attended this year's Kentucky Derby. Photo by Katsumi Kasahara, Special to the Courier-Journal.
TOKYO -- Hidekazu Kawamura, a real-estate agent, knows the value of a good location.
So a full six days before the June 6 running of the Japan Derby, Kawamura and his wife, Maki, claimed a desirable little patch of concrete in front of the Tokyo Racecourse. The young couple spread newspapers on the ground, opened folding chairs and coolers, turned on a portable radio and became first in line for admission to the Sunday race.
By the eve of the race, hundreds of other young racing fans had lined up behind the Kawamuras, eager to get a good view of one of Japan's biggest sporting events.
Welcome to a country where thoroughbred racing is as popular as a Rolling Stones tour or a new "Star Wars" movie.
A typical crowd of 173,340 jammed into the sleek, modern grandstand for the Japan Derby -- 22,289 more than attended this year's Kentucky Derby, which was the second-largest crowd in American racing history.
Japanese fans bet $474 million on the day of the Japan Derby, more than five times the worldwide betting on Kentucky Derby Day.
And this betting frenzy goes on all year. With an annual betting volume of about $36 billion, Japan far outpaces every other country. Even though its population is less than half that of the United States, the Japanese bet three times as much on horses.

These results are all the more impressive when you consider that live racing in Japan declined sharply in popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s -- much as it did in the United States, before rebounding to its previous high level during the 1990s. Between 1975 and 1984, on-track attendance in Japan plunged nearly 44 percent before beginning its gradual but total recovery. U.S. attendance has not recovered.
Ask the Japanese why horse racing is so popular and you get many different answers.
Some cite the aesthetic appeal of a rural, genteel sport in a country of standing-room-only commuter trains, modern concrete high-rises and tiny apartments.
Others, like Shizuka Gen Imaizumi, managing director of Thoroughbred Breeders Club Co. Ltd. in Hokkaido, say simply, "Asians love to gamble."
Sachi Inaishi, a 41-year-old Tokyo racing fan, likes the rare opportunity to let loose in a society with rigid rules of proper conduct. "It's the emotional excitement, cheering for a horse and being really happy when he wins, or sad when he loses," she said.
Katsumi Yoshida, breeder of this year's Japan Derby winner, Admire Vega, gives a lot of credit to the Japan Racing Association, a public agency overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

"LOOK ANYWHERE
else in the world," Yoshida said. "You won't see the Jockey Club in any country doing such a good job promoting racing."
The racing association, created in 1954, is responsible for all aspects of horse racing at the country's 10 major tracks. The organization gives 10 percent of its revenue to the government, plus half of the surplus left over at the end of each year. That amounts to about $4 billion a year.
The association watches closely over horse racing. Every detail, from jockeys' training to food served at the tracks, comes under its purview.
Even fans who want to wave signs cheering on their favorite horse or jockey first must get the wording and size approved.
And at the government-run training centers, horses wear bar codes on their saddles and are scanned during each workout. If a horse fails to appear for a workout, the racing association sends its own veterinarian to check on the animal.
Its most visible role is in promoting racing, and it has been so successful that it partly inspired the formation of a national racing league in the United States last year.
"The No. 1 thing we studied and learned about Japan was that structure matters a whole lot," said Tim Smith, president and chief executive of the new National Thoroughbred Racing Association in the United States.
"We're certainly not where they are in terms of centralized structure and control of their product -- and we probably never will be because of the state-by-state regulation here. But I think they've shown that branding, advertising, marketing, television, scheduling of races and so on is most effectively done at the national level in a coordinated way."
Smith, a former deputy commissioner of the Professional Golf Association Tour, hopes to provide the national leadership and television presence that American racing has always lacked. The U.S. racing association's "Go, Baby, Go" television and radio commercials, which began running last year, are the first step toward reversing a steep decline in race-track attendance.
Betting on horse racing continues to grow in the United States and Japan, but Smith said attendance is an important barometer of racing's long-term health. Racing's fan base is aging, and the sport will suffer unless new fans fill the stands, he said.
In Japan, attendance plummeted 44 percent between 1975 and 1984. Then in the mid-1980s, the racing association undertook an ambitious plan to update and improve its race tracks and promote racing as exciting entertainment.
U.S. RACE TRACKS
are privately owned -- or in the case of Churchill Downs, owned by stockholders so the racing association can do little about the facilities and service at individual tracks. But it is pinning great hopes on advertising. Its advertising budget this year is $25 million and includes eight television commercials with actor Rip Torn.
The Japan Racing Association achieved its turnaround partly by spending about $100 million over several years to advertise horse racing, using well-known stars to try to appeal to young women in particular. Female attendance, which was 7.1 percent of the total in the early 1980s, grew to about 12 percent in the 1990s. For days with important fillies' races, female attendance is as much as one-third of the total.
Just as important, the increased female interest in racing attracted more men -- particularly young men -- to the track. Attendance has returned to the high levels enjoyed 20 years ago, even as off-track betting has exploded in Japan.
"It's pretty encouraging for what we're trying to do," Smith said. "They made the marketing investment in the mid-1980s, and the results were dramatic. We take some comfort in that and are energized by that curve."
In the United States, the new national ads are aimed at 25- to 45-year-old sports fans who are not opposed to gambling.
Japan's female-directed ads, which feature young male heartthrobs or emphasize the beauty and romance of horses, helped persuade America's male-dominated racing elite to at least make their ads gender-neutral, Smith said.
"That was counterintuitive to some because men wager more actively, but the experience in Japan had some influence on us saying we ought to include men and woman equally," he said.
Since the U.S. ads began, racing association research has turned up the surprising information that horse racing is the third-most-watched televised sport by women, after figure skating and gymnastics.
Meanwhile, Japanese racing has shifted its focus to attracting two new groups: young unmarried businessmen and working women over 30, said Naoaki Koike, a director of that country's racing association.
How to appeal to young Japanese businessmen? It's a truism of racing that people get hooked by having a stake in the outcome of a race, by having a bet down. Japanese racing is becoming more interactive with fans in other ways, too. For example, fans are asked to compose electronic fanfares, and the winning tune is played over the loudspeaker before a race.
Many young Japanese men like to compose music on computers or their cell phones. "The younger generation are strongly attracted to music," Koike said.
Tokyo Racecourse also holds contests in which the winning couple gets married at the track, with an all-expenses-paid Hawaiian honeymoon.
The association also sponsors luncheons for single female opinion leaders over 30 to offer suggestions about improving the track experience. They represent a growing segment of the population who generally have disposable income and their weekends free.
Patrons looked over a racing newspaper at Tokyo Racecourse. Japanese fans bet $474 million on their Derby Day - more than five times the worldwide betting on Kentucky Derby Day. Photo by Katsumi Kasahara, Special to the Courier-Journal
TRACKS ALSO
hold "Ladies' Horse Racing Classrooms," tours for beginners, and give away roses and other tokens to women patrons.
Attendance at American races has declined while other forms of gambling have boomed. In the past 25 years, racing's share of gambling has dwindled to 7.8 percent from 28 percent, according to International Gaming and Wagering Magazine.
Japan doesn't have casinos, but it does have pari-mutuel wagering on motorboat, bicycle and motorcycle racing. Horse racing, however, has a bigger handle than all three combined.
There's also a government-run lottery and Pachinko, a noisy game similar to an upright pinball machine that's not strictly considered a form of gambling. Winners are paid in household items like toasters or shampoo instead of cash, but it's extremely popular: The annual amount bet on the game is about 10 times greater than horse racing.
Racing's advantage over games like Pachinko lies partly in its more sociable atmosphere, a point emphasized not only by the racing association but by enterprising thoroughbred breeders like Koichiro and Yuki Hayata.
The couple have encouraged thousands of working people to join racing syndicates, where a small investment gets them a piece of a racehorse -- and a rooting interest.

But not every Japanese racing fan is pleased with horse racing's spiffed-up new image. The racing association's Koike acknowledged that some hard-core gamblers have abandoned horse racing for boat racing.
Takashi Endo, 62, a Tokyo magazine editor, has been a racing fan for 40 years. He complains about the sometimes-rowdy behavior of the new youngsters at the track.
"When the races are going to start, the old fans know to be quiet, but the young fans roll up their newspapers and wave them and scream. The horses get really nervous. It would be better if people had better racing manners," Endo said.
But he said it's a small price to see his beloved sport thrive.
"Years ago, it wasn't acceptable to go to the race track and bet, so I kind of did it secretly," he said. "You couldn't read the racing form on the train. I had to hide it. Now you have all these racing heroes and hero horses and more women fans. Now it's a date spot."

[ November 11, 2002, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: imaufo ]

[Handy Harry]

HE EASES SLOWLY INTO A STEAMING BATH FILLED with the famously therapeutic waters of a Japanese hot spring. After an afternoon of pounding the turf, the champion has developed swollen legs. The bath will help encourage blood circulation and reduce inflammation, says his doctor. Overhead spigots open and a spray washes the powerful athlete. Later he will take a relaxing swim in a pool.

Japan's thoroughbreds are certainly pampered. And why not? These steeds are the future of the country's horse-racing industry. The horses compete, sometimes, but not often, against foreign racers, for purses of $1 million and more.

Horse racing in Japan doesn't have the glamor that it does in some countries. At Tokyo's Fuchu track on a recent sun-drenched day, the atmosphere was more like a picnic than the sport of kings. Children rode wooden rocking horses in the park area while couples put out lunch spreads. Inside, spectators paid less than $2 for standing-room views of the action. But don't let the laid-back atmosphere fool you: punters bet about $35 billion on the top-tier races run by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) last year.

No wonder the Japanese racing community is pushing hard to develop its horse breeding industry. It will be crucial to ensuring that racing brings more money into Japan than escapes it. "We don't want a horse racing industry like the one in Hong Kong, where there is no breeding industry," says Yoshida Takenori, general manager of the JRA's international department.

Japanese horse breeders get plenty of help from the government. There are high tariff barriers -- for example, officials impose a levy of $31,600 on each imported racehorse -- and other restrictions on bringing in bloodstock. Indeed, the JRA was established in 1954 as a public enterprise not only to host "wholesome" races but also to promote the breeding of racehorses. (The latter goal places it under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.)

Not surprisingly, the high level of protection has long been a sore subject with foreign horse breeders, especially the Americans. A 1992 U.S. government report argues that Japanese breeders want to keep out American stock because local breeds "are of relatively low genetic quality" and cannot compete. On the Japanese tracks, overseas steeds certainly seem to be more fleet of foot. Between 1990 and 1993, the average prize money won by a domestically bred two-year-old was $34,700 and that by a five-year-old was $123,000. The numbers for foreign-born horses -- $69,000 and $146,000 respectively.

In any case, domestic horse breeders agree: a transfusion of good foreign blood adds pep to the racer's step. Six of Japan's 10 biggest winners in the first four months of the year had at least one foreign parent -- mostly from the U.S. Also consider: seven of the top 11 Japanese money winners this year have bloodlines tracing back to Northern Dancer, one of the most successful stud horses in U.S. history.

As a result, many Japanese horse owners are willing to pay extra to buy sires and young horses overseas. It also helps explain why stud fees for foreign steeds are so high in Japan. Top stallions such as the former Kentucky Derby winner, Sunday Silence, may command up to $175,000 for each impregnation. Hence the big investment by 40 Japanese breeders last year. The group paid $30 million for the European star, Lammtarra. The five-year-old is the winner of the 1995 English Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, France's biggest race. Each member of the consortium can breed two mares with Lammtarra per year.

Still, government incentives for Japanese breeders to use domestic stock may be having an effect. According to statistics from the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association (JBBA), the country brought in 14 stallions in 1996, three fewer than the previous year. Imports of broodmares also fell to 195 last year -- 131 pregnant mares and 64 fillies -- 35% less than in 1995. (It is common for Japanese owners to import pregnant horses so the colts will be considered domestic.)

However, Japanese officials have no qualms about tapping overseas equine talent -- as long as they can control it. The JRA regularly buys foreign stud horses for use by local breeders. This year it paid $7.7 million for the British horse Warning as part of an initiative to diversify the bloodline of Japan's racehorses. In 1991, the JRA bought Dancing Brave, perhaps Europe's horse of the decade, for a similar sum and donated him to the JBBA.

The JRA also subsidizes treatment at the Equine Research Institute's horse spa at Joban, three hours from Tokyo by high-speed train. Japanese breeders pay about one-third less than the $2,600 daily fee that a private facility would charge. Stud farms are eligible for grants and low-interest loans totalling more than $900 million. At the institute's facility at Tochigi, research is conducted on such subjects as the effect of race-track construction on a horse's speed and infectious diseases that afflict the animals. Besides contributing to research, the JRA runs two training centers. One in Miho, in Ibaragi prefecture northeast of Tokyo, has 5,000 trainers, jockeys and stable hands looking after about 2,300 horses. Another in Ritto, east of Kyoto prefecture, stables about 2,200 steeds.

Yet the Japanese breeding industry faces many problems. Experts cite weak broodmare bloodlines, poor management and breeding techniques as well as operators that emphasize quantity over quality of their foals. In addition, the majority of Japan's 2,000 stud farms are small, family-run operations. Only a tenth are large ranches with 16 or more broodmares, which can enjoy economies of scale and often support the latest technological advances. Among the best known of the big operators is Shadai Farm. Established by the the late Yoshida Zenya, the farm now encompasses several facilities run by his three sons, Teruya, Katsumi and Haruya. Together, the brothers have the best stallion line-up in the country, led by Sunday Silence.

At the same time, the rich prizes in Japan have attracted increasing external pressure to deregulate its restrictive racing industry. The 1992 U.S. report asserted: "The U.S. racehorse industry believes that foreign racing markets hold great potential and it wants assurances that Japan's lucrative market will be open to foreign competition." Certainly, gaijin horsemen hoping to break into the country face great hurdles. For example, only nine of the 3,400 JRA races this year are open to foreign entries. But, pushed and prodded by the horse-racing interests abroad, the JRA is to raise the number of international races to 12 in two years' time. "If we didn't have such large prize money, there wouldn't be so much pressure to open up," says Yoshida of the JRA.

While the breeders recognize that liberalization is inevitable, it won't happen anytime soon if they have their way. Says Matsuo Keiji of the JBBA's research department: "We have only had 50 years' experience in horse racing, while Europe and the U.S. have over 100. We can't suddenly open up the market." The tight reins applied on Japan's racing industry look set to continue -- local horse breeders prefer to make haste slowly.

[imaufo]

"At that moment when the horses crossed the finish line I was so excited my knees were trembling. I was really moved," JRA President Masayuki Takahashi says as he thought back on the final moments of last year's grand finale, the Arima Memorial. A photo finish saw race favorite Grass Wonder ahead of second pick Special Week by a nose in one of the most dramatic Arima finishes in recent years. "I had bet on the Arima before," the 60-year-old Takahashi says, "but that was the first time I'd seen the race in person, and what an exciting race I got to see."


As the new head of JRA, betting on the races is one pleasure Takahashi is no longer permitted. From the sounds of it, he wouldn't find time for it anyhow. Formerly Administrative Vice-minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Takahashi succeeded the post of Japan Racing Association president some five months ago.

Candidly, he admits that much of what he encountered in the first five months of his presidency was new to him. "Before, racing just meant horses racing. Now, I'm aware of everything involved, all the efforts involved in getting the horses to the track -- from the breeding farms on through training."


What's more, Takahashi says, since he became president he's come to appreciate much of the tedious, nerve-wracking aspects of JRA's work, and the pains taken to assure fans will enjoy the kind of excitement he experienced watching the Arima. "Trying to prevent accidents, making sure there's no mistake in the betting payoffs, being sure a photo finish is called accurately -- before I became president I hadn't thought of all these things. In one way you could say it's great having so many people on hand to take care of things if something happens but, as our system is based on prevention, it can be quite a drain on the nerves."


Big changes are meeting Takahashi at the start of his term, two of the biggest being the revamping of the year's racing program and the opening of the first classic race, the Emperor's Cup, to foreign-bred horses. The general objective behind the changes, Takahashi says, is "making the races more attractive to the fans." Increasing the attraction can be accomplished directly, as with the inauguration of races, or indirectly, by raising the prize money or easing race restrictions to result in a stronger, more competitive and thus more attractive field.

"This year we've raised the first-place prize money of the Japan Cup to 250 millionYEN," Takahashi notes. "The Japan Cup has been selected as one of the races in the Emirates World Racing Championship series. All the races included have considerable purses and we thought we should be on the same par."

"Also," Takahashi points out, "the Japan Cup now enjoys a good reputation internationally. We decided to raise the prize money this year in appreciation.

The Japan Cup weekend from this year will also see a new race, the Japan Cup Dirt, an international invitational to be held the day before, and run, as its name suggests, over dirt. "The purpose of this race is in part to help promote dirt racing -- make things more exciting and give a push to dirt racing in JRA program. We'd also like to see this race come to be considered the national pinnacle of dirt racing for both local government and JRA races," Takahashi explained. "We've had good response from North America especially. I think the fact that we're having both races in the same week is going to help attract some good horses."

This year also sees the start of the invitational Nakayama Grand Jump, the first international jump race. The race is to be held in April, and, Takahashi says, "Here, too, we've had a good response and I think we can expect a good field."

Last year a new form of wagering, the Quinella Place, was initiated, a low-risk, moderately high-return bet aimed at the beginner. No changes, however, are expected on this front this year. Exotic high-return bets wagers are still nonexistent in Japan and JRA is reluctant to introduce them. "In Japan there has always been quite a lot of resistance to the idea of gambling," Takahashi explains.

"The general sentiment is that gambling is bad. There are tolerated exceptions; bicycle races, boat races and of course, horse races. JRA has always tried topresent racing not as a form of gambling but as a leisure sport." Exotic wagers, the president says, would heighten the gambling aspect of the sport. "There are calls to introduce the exacta though, which is something we're looking into."

Helping greatly to promote racing in Japan is JRA's oft-lauded advertising campaign, which elects popular actors, actresses and singers for a two-year contract to work with JRA. Here again, the association head says, the aim is to promote racing as a leisure sport. "The idea is to get people to participate in racing, to come to the track. Naturally, we hope they'll bet on the races when they're there. But we never would say, 'Come bet on the races.' That would be tasteless."

However, no advertising campaign, no matter how slick, how sexy, could give the betting fans what they want: information and lots of it. Here is where the private media steps in. Newspapers, magazines and racing sheets are major players in racing promotion. Almost any newsstand on any weekend sells at least five daily sports newspapers which cover the races, as well as some 13 racing sheets, devoted solely to the weekend's races.

"We don't instruct the media or tell them what to do in any way," Takahashi says. "We do provide them with ample information that they can pass on to the fans. As far as helping boost the image of racing, that's more the role of our paid advertising." The president believes prolific information is one of the most important factors in keeping the fans satisfied, and expresses his concern that no suspicions of foul play be allowed to arise on the fans' part.

"You must have the fans' trust. The moment the fans think JRA is doing something fishy, when they think something's not right, that's when you lose their trust and you lose the fans."
This concern reflects what has been JRA's motto from its beginning 46 years ago -- "fair racing," a keyword upon which its system is based.

"This concept, taken a bit further, turns into what is called 'administrated racing' or 'controlled racing.' If you take that a bit further it can develop into what threatens to be a 'closed society,'" Takahashi says. It is this "closed aspect" that often draws criticism from within and without the nation.


Starting this year, foreign-breds who have not yet raced abroad will be allowed to take part in the hallowed classic races, and as yet, only two horses in each race. The Emperor's Cup, held twice a year, will be opened this year, with the remainder of the classics opening over the next four years. The opening of the classic races has been undertaken keeping the present situation of Japanese racehorse breeding in mind. "We do consider the promotion of Japanese breeding to be part of our responsibilities," Takahashi says in support. "The policy of further opening the races will be reviewed a few years from now and it will then be decided if we open them further."

Japan, with its racing success, is undoubtedly considered a role model by many countries, particularly in Asia. Though flattered by the esteem in which it is held, Takahashi says JRA does not endeavor to instruct others in how to do things. "Each country has its own style, its own traditions. I don't think you can take racing and say, 'do it like this in Japan,' or take Japan's way of doing things and say to others 'do it like this in your country.'
"It's a difficult point. Every country's racing has developed or is developing in a different way. Each country's way of dealing with problems is different. How to maintain fairness? Here too, each country is different. ... If you have some problem, some unfairness, you can deal with it after the fact, punish, penalize, prohibit.

The West is very good at doing things this way. But the Japanese system is mainly based on preventing problems from happening. It places more importance on this prevention.

"The important thing," Takahashi says in conclusion, "we must concern ourselves with now is how to maintain fairness, impartiality, while at the same time keeping the doors open to the outside."


Mr. Takahashi (left) guides the Emperor at JRA's "Hippophil Day" at the Equestrian Park.

Mr. Takahashi's Profile:

March1963:Graduated from Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo
April1963:Entered Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
January1997: Became Administrative Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
July1998:Retired from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
September1999:Became President & CEO of JRA
Born:January12, 1940, Gifu Prefecture
Hobbies:Appreciating painting and ceramics

[imaufo]

On Saturday I was fortunate to have the chance to visit the Shadai group of farms up in Hokkaido, Japan. And not on a tour, but being shown around by the son of the boss, and at times the boss himself (Mr. Katsumi Yoshida)! I don't know if anyone would be interested, but just in case some are, I thought I would post a bit of a report here - as it was certainly a wonderful experience. I took a couple of photos which I'll put on here once I've finished the film...

First of all - these guys know their horses. They knew all about European and American racing (of course), but even about Australian racing! Apparently they are setting up some mare venture in Australia and have bought 5 or 6 mares.

The son commented that most of them were nothing much yet, but the one standout was Tycoon Lil.

She had had a Zabeel filly foal for them, and although they were planning to sell most of the early foals, they were thinking of keeping this one. They have 5 or 6 horses running in Australia, but it sounds like Ribe is the only decent one going around at the moment. They had a nice Danehill stakeswinning mare (Sky Rocket) also with Lee Freedman, which they have brought back to Japan and bred with Zabeel, SS and SS again (although the last SS died 1/2 a day after she was born).

Anyway, first of all I was shown some of the training facilities. It is the middle of winter and there is snow everywhere, so although they have those long courses like the UK - in between the trees etc., they can't use any of them at the moment, because the horses slip. So they have built indoor training tracks. There was a huge indoor circular track which I didn't go inside, but they also have a 800m uphill woodchip course (all under cover). At this time of the year, they are giving their 2yos a workout (turned 2 on 1 January in the NH). Its pretty amazing - there are cameras at every 200m point (as the course bends slightly - you can't see straight down it), and there is a control box where the training "master" gives specific directions to each jockey (they must havee 20 or 30 jockeys living-in on the farm).

Japanese photos by Helen.


Each jockey has a microphone, and the guy in charge tells them when to push the horse etc., and is taking notes of every little detail for each horse. He gave me a run-down on each of the horses as they got to the top - he knew the bloodlines of every horse there - and these are some of the world's greatest bloodlines. I could have stayed there all day. By the way - if anyone knows - is Helenus a very big horse? They knew of his achievements and had seen his races. Helissio has been a disappointment in Japan, so even in Japan Helenus is used as Helissio's star performer in the stallion brochure.

The guy at the training track mentioned that small Helissios are usually much better than big ones. He tends to get gross horses apparently, and they are usually not that great, but the little ones tend to do OK. I was wondering which Helenus was?

After the training track, it was off to the breeding barn - which is where the boss was. And this was where it was all happening.

I got to see Kurofune going about his job. He is really an awesome looking horse. The son who was taking me around (Shunsuke Yoshida) was the one who bought him (on behalf of one of their biggest owners) in the US. He spent 1 1/2 years in the US, working on farms etc, and he happened to be on the farm where Kurofune was raised. After riding him and watching him there, he convinced this owner to buy him - and the rest is history (of course his book is full at 180 or so this year - each A$70,000 or so).


Kurafone

But the whole atmosphere was amazing. Here was Kurofune doing it with a stakeswinning mare, but walking past behind me was a beautiful looking black horse. I was surprised when the son asked "who is this?" but the answer was Manhattan Cafe. That made sense, cause he has only just arrived there as a new stallion. It must be horse heaven though, because every single horse looked beautiful.

Then it was on to lunch which was interesting too. One thing that might be interesting that they were saying, was that when Australians visited the stallions there - every single person said that (even amongst all these amazing horses) a horse called Sakura Bakushin O is the best looking horse there.

He was an amazing sprinter (and is the sire of Shonan Kampf who unfortunately failed in HK), and he does look great - I got the chance to see him in "action" as well. I got all kinds of other information too - like the 2 US sires that they think are going well and are value at the moment (Grand Slam and Tiger Motion), and a wrap-up of the Florida training sales that the son had just been too, where he had only bought one horse, etc. etc.

Anyway, I've just been writing and writing, and I don't know how much of this make sense.... I will post those pictures, they probably won't be that good


Japanese Photos by Helen page 2

More Japanese photos by Helen!

[Handy Harry]

Origins



The history of the Tokyo Yushun (the Japanese Derby) is relatively short. The race was established in 1932, there was a two-year hiatus during World War II, and it was held for the 70th time this year. Compared to the Derby in the United Kingdom, which has been held 224 times, and the Kentucky Derby in the United States, which has been held 130 times, the Tokyo Yushun is still in its youth.

However, the horseracing encyclopedia published by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) notes, "If horseracing is defined as a competitive race between two or more horses run under prescribed conditions, Japan boasts one of the world's oldest histories of horseracing." The oldest record of horseracing in Japan is of a race on May 5 of the first year of the Taiho period (701). Individuals deemed by Emperor Monmu to be of great repute competed in the race." The origin of this race is unclear, but it had heavy religious overtones. At the time, horses were considered invaluable and were seen as vehicles used by the gods. The event is generally believed to have been a competition dedicated to the gods over the quality of the horses." (JRA horseracing encyclopedia) Apparently, horses that the imperial family received as tributes from throughout Japan were raised and trained at the imperial family ranch to later run races.



Kyoto Imperial Palace
(Photo:Imperial Household Agency)


In 1861, the first Western-style horse-race was held in Japan. The race was organized by foreigners living in Japan. The following spring, a racecourse was built in Yokohama behind a group of foreigners' residences, an official program was created, and Japanese as well as Chinese horses competed in races. Horse owners rode in the races, and horse height was used to determine rider weight limits.

The imperial family, which was at the center of ancient horseracing, was also enthusiastic about Western-style horseracing. Emperor Meiji was especially fond of horseracing. He frequently visited the race-courses and even sponsored a championship cup race. Around this time, modern horseracing started to take off. Meanwhile, wars with China and Russia drove home the fact that Japan's war horses were inferior to those of other countries. This helped to bolster modern horseracing's prosperity under the pretext of improving horses. However, wagering also became tremendously popular, and, in 1908, a ban was imposed on horserace betting. After a long, dreary period without horserace betting, the ban was lifted and wagering made a comeback in 1924-eight years before the birth of the Tokyo Yushun.


The 70th Tokyo Yushun (the Japanese Derby) held at Tokyo Racecourse on June 1, 2003.3

Development

Then, Japan followed in the footsteps of Britain-the leading horseracing country-by establishing a system of classic races. The Tokyo Yushun became popular as the core of the classic races, and horseracing clubs scattered throughout Japan united to form the JRA. This organization set Japan on the path to strong growth necessary for the country to stand shoulder to shoulder with the horseracing leaders-the United States and Europe. The JRA also firmly established a foundation for Japan's rich horseracing culture.

The racing program for this year's 70th Tokyo Yushun offered an introduction to racing conditions in Japan at the time of the race's birth.

"When the Tokyo Yushun was established, Japan's thoroughbreds took around six months longer to prepare for races than those of more advanced horseracing countries. Thus, it was proposed that the race for 3-year-olds be run either in the fall or spring, in which case the distance should be shortened. However, in the interest of improving and advancing thoroughbred breeding techniques, it was decided that despite the initial challenge, the race would be run under the same conditions as in leading horseracing countries-a 2,400-meter race held in the spring. These are the same conditions the race is run under today."

Twelve colts and seven fillies ran in the first Tokyo Yushun, which had winning money of 10,000 YEN. 9,351 people attended the race. Wakataka, the favorite and grandprogeny of Triple Crown winner Gainsborough, finished in 2 minutes 45.2/10 seconds, taking the victory.

The Tokyo Yushun's eventful history spans nearly three-quarters of a century. The race was cancelled for two years during World War II, and, preceding this hiatus, it was held amid air raids as a horseracing proficiency test for individuals involved with the JRA. The winner of the 13th Tokyo Yushun-Kaiso-became a warhorse, which later disappeared in battle. After the war, horseracing in Japan gradually expanded along with the Japanese economy, and horseracing is now starting to become a "national festival" that garners admiration even from people who are not fans per se.

The number of spectators gathering at Tokyo Racecourse to witness this momentous occasion increased every year for many years. In 1990, more than 200,000 people attended the Tokyo Yushun, including zealous fans that stayed up night after night outside the racecourse, waiting for the gates to open. Since betting in an atmosphere so crowded that people can barely move poses problems, entrance was limited from the following year-1991-as a safety measure. Pari-mutuel handle soared, and, in 1994, one Japanese derby race alone brought in approximately 56.8 billion YEN ($485 million). The 1998 Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) holds the record for highest pari-mutuel handle in bJapan at 85.7 billion YEN. Since then, the downturn in the Japanese economy has gradually started to affect the JRA, which at horseracing's peak boasted yearly overall net revenues of 4 trillion YEN ($34 billion). Despite the 150 million YEN first-place prize-the highest prize to date-for this year's 70th Tokyo Yushun, attendance totaled 133,393, and revenues amounted to 33.9 billion YEN, dipping slightly from previous years, owing primarily to heavy rain from an approaching typhoon. However, nationwide broadcasts from ten television stations and three radio stations as well as robust off-course betting via PCs, cellular phones, and other equipment infused this "national festival" with a party spirit.

2003 Tokyo Yushun

A total of 18 horses entered this year's Tokyo Yushun. These horses had won race after race to take their place as the cream of the crop among the 8,907 thoroughbreds born in 2000. Since 2001, foreign-bred horses have been eligible to run in the Tokyo Yushun. Unfortunately, no foreign-bred horses entered this year's race. Among the 18 horses in the race, the spotlight was on the six progeny and two grandprogeny of the legendary Sunday Silence.

For Tokyo Yushun highlights please see "A Review of JRA Racing in the First Half of 2003" by Ken-ichi Nomoto (page 5).

Young Italian jockey Mirco Demuro was the winning jockey. Foreign jockeys have been able to ride in Japan's classic races since 1994. However, this was the first Tokyo Yushun that had ever been taken by a non-Japanese jockey. The full house cheered this feat, which marked the beginning of a new era, shouting "Demuro! Demuro!"

The 24-year-old Italian responded by rubbing his cheek against his beloved Neo Universe and executing a flying dismount reminiscent of his mentor and fellow countryman Frankie Dettori.

Demuro expressed his joy over the race, "I absolutely love Japanese horseracing! I couldn't be happier with a fifth win in the Italian Derby. Neo Universe was completely relaxed in the paddock. About the only thing that horse can't do is talk. If he gets any better, he'll probably take flight."

Along with the first Tokyo Yushun win by a foreign jockey in the history of Japanese horseracing, it should be mentioned that the progeny of Sunday Silence dominated the ranks. Of the eight horses of the Sunday Silence line that ran in the race, seven ranked among the top eight, including the first, second, and fourth place finishers that were direct offspring. The seventh and eighth place finishers were also direct offspring and the third and fifth place finishers were grandprogeny of Sunday Silence. Sunday Silence progeny had dominated four previous Japanese derbies, but this year was a blowout with six consecutive GI wins this season.

This year's classic filly races also gave rise to a Double Crown winner-Still in Love, a progeny of Sunday Silence, which took consecutive victories in the Oka Sho (the Japanese 1,000 Guineas) and the Yushun Himba (the Japanese Oaks). An off-spring of Sunday Silence also placed second in the Yushun Himba. This was the first time in 28 years and only the fourth time ever in classic race history that a filly and a colt took Double Crowns at the same time.

The lineage of a champion thoroughbred is formidable. Sunday Silence's sudden death last summer was unfortunate, but his offspring are likely to pick up where he left off and his legendary prowess may well spread beyond the borders of Japan into the international arena.

Among all the Tokyo Yushun winners to date, only five have emerged as Triple Crown winners. Teruya Yoshida, who imported Sunday Silence into Japan, highly praised this year's Derby winner saying, "Neo Universe may well become Sunday Silence's greatest successor." Hopes are also pinned on Neo Universe to emerge as the sixth Triple Crown winner after a nine-year hiatus. Will Neo Universe live up to these expectations?

There is just one hitch. Demuro, who took the Double Crown for Neo Universe, cannot ride in the Kikuka Sho (the Japanese St. Leger)-the last hurdle to winning a Triple Crown. The short-term license granted to foreign jockeys is only valid for up to three months per year. Demuro's license expires at the end of June.* Horseracing fans are now engaged in heated debate on the Internet and in other arenas as to how to overcome this thorny issue. This situation is symbolic of the increasingly international nature of Japanese horseracing.

* After this article was written, the JRA made a special exception to the rules that will allow Demuro to ride in the Kikuka Sho.

[imaufo]

Centres of excellence an inspiration for our industry

August 20, 2004

Ireland, England and Japan provide the model of what Australian racing can aspire to, writes Ray Murrihy.

There is much to be learned from our overseas cousins by the way they provide for the thoroughbred and the education of industry participants. In many overseas cities, young people seeking to enter our unique industry do so at no cost.

No doubt, a number of these activities could be carried out at a world-class facility at Horsley Park, which featured prominently in Racing NSW's recently released strategic plan.

My recent month-long working holiday was certainly enlightening. Rest and recuperation combined with research on issues relevant to the NSW racing industry was part of the package.

Betting exchanges, track conditions, academies and training centres were also on the agenda. Facilities in England, Ireland and Japan were visited while taking in a few race meetings, which included worthwhile discussion with racing officials. Betting exchanges were a particularly relevant topic, considering the publicity they are receiving in Australia.

At the Jockey Club offices in England, a morning was spent with the director of security, who heads a team of seven highly qualified analysts and researchers.

Their role is to collect evidence and to provide a brief to the Jockey Club's disciplinary department. Some six cases are now pending, all of them dealing with racing breaches involving wagering on betting exchanges.

Interestingly, the security department does not employ a specialist form analyst such as Racing NSW's Terry Griffin, nor does it routinely monitor betting exchange transactions at race meetings, as does Racing NSW.

The approach in Japan, England and Ireland with regards to apprentice jockeys and track rider training academies varies somewhat but, in all cases, the facilities are vastly superior to what we have in Australia.

That is not to diminish in any way the fine work being done by Racing NSW training personnel in Marianne Chaffe and Malcolm Fitzgerald, but is directly related, of course, to the issue of resources and funding.

In Japan, trainee apprentices live in for the three years of their apprenticeship; in Ireland they spend two 14-week semesters at a special school before being attached to a trainer. In the British Racing School at Newmarket, apprentices spend an initial nine-week semester at the academy but then return in block releases for further training.

In contrast to recruitment of apprentices and track riders in Australia, there are long queues of applicants seeking training; for example, in the Japanese Horse Racing School at Shiroi the annual intake of 10 apprentices will be drawn from a field of 200-300 applicants.

Indoor and outdoor riding facilities are provided, with horses being donated by industry members. Classrooms featuring video and audio link-ups with the riders are an impressive part of this apprentice training.

All-important funding comes from government as well as industry sources and, indeed, in Ireland a percentage is taken from each winning purse to support the Kildare-based Race Academy Centre of Education. Could it be the same here?

All schools actively pursue commercial opportunities by leasing conference facilities. There is also diversification, with these impressive facilities used for training track riders, farriers, groundsmen, trainers. Horsley Park awaits.

No less impressive are the specialised horse training centres at Miho in Japan and Newmarket in England, and the training facilities at the Curragh racecourse in Ireland. In Miho, more than 2200 horses are trained between the north course, which has eight tracks, and the south course, which has seven.

The new elevated woodchip circuit encompasses bar coding and videotaping to provide trainers with every detail of their horses' work in the comfort of the trainers' room. And the covered swimming pool complex would do justice to an Olympic facility.

All horses racing in Japan are housed in these complexes, with trainers occupying barns of 24 stables. Stable staff are all accommodated at Miho, which even provides a lock-down facility for the riders on the evening before each meeting. Farrier shops, veterinary hospitals, quarantine facilities, waste treatment plants and even a supermarket complement the complex.

Japan, which boasts 43 per cent of the world's betting turnover on racing, provides wonderful facilities for its stewards, including access to no fewer than 16 video cameras. Nevertheless, the professionalism of the conduct of racing in Australia is, in my view, difficult to surpass, as is verified by the continued overseas interest in our officials.

Newmarket is a town with the bulk of its working population [4000] engaged in racing, whereby 2800 horses train daily on some 24 tracks comprising turf, woodchip, sand and pro-track surfaces. The pro-track all-weather surface contains a mixture of silica sand, soft rubber and fibre, all heavily waxed, and is favoured by many leading trainers.

Newmarket has nine swimming pools and handlers can be seen walking their teams kilometres to the uphill gallops track throughout the course of the day in a much calmer atmosphere to that of the frenetic Australian trackwork sessions, which often commence well before dawn and must be concluded by 8am.

Interestingly, horse numbers in Ireland are increasing so that extra meetings are being scheduled and all-weather tracks being contemplated. I was fortunate to attend the Galway Race Club carnival, which holds racing on seven consecutive days involving an overall attendance of 200,000 and betting turnover of $80 million. Entry was $45 although the public were admitted free to the flat area, an idea that must be worthy of consideration in Australia.

The deeds of Kerrin McEvoy and Hugh Bowman are putting a new Australian face on UK racing, although when interviewed on the Irish sports channel the questions directed to myself were mainly on Dermot Weld and the Melbourne Cup and the exploits of NSW identities Ron Quinton, Kevin Moses and Wayne Harris, who rode so successfully over there in past years.

At Newmarket, the evening race meeting commencing at 6pm drew an attendance of 12,000, many of whom were young patrons drawn by the rock concert starting at 9pm.

Speaking of the Melbourne Cup, I was able to take a photo opportunity with Vintage Crop, which today is in retirement at the Irish National Stud at Kildare. An innovation of the national stud is its promotion of day tours for the public and its restaurant set in the beautiful surrounds. Similar tours take pace at Miho and Newmarket and could be a means in Australia of introducing new fans to thoroughbred racing.

As for racing surfaces, a day spent at Cork was interesting. The course proper was in a similar shape to Rosehill last Saturday, which was rated good but caused much concern for the Irish. The inside section was heavily watered with jockeys making a beeline for the wet part when the gates banged back for each race.

In Australia, our jockeys would be shoving and pushing to get to the drier section. The learning curve continues.