The New York Times recently ran an article on horse breeding in Japan. I have to say, horse breeding and horse racing are not my thing, but if you’re into it, give the article a read. It mostly focuses on a horse named Casino Drive who is related to many big-name horses and is living and training in Japan under racing manager Nobutaka Tada and chief executive Hidetoshi Tamamoto who bought the horse for almost $1,000,000 in 2006.
well, this looks like another potential dust-gatherer.
So I just can’t standby and let that happen, and after Brian kindly took the trouble to write and post it.
(Walk a mile in my horse shoes..in a manner of speaking!)
I know a bit about about racing,afterall I was the one who informed the J-Blog world that Horlicks won the 1989 Japan Cup
http://japundit.com/archives/2007/04/23/5821/
but that’s neither here nor there, in actual fact its right here/right now.
I might need a bit of help from my Mama, who is an absolute fount of knowledge when it comes the Sport of Kings..almost kept the family solvent with some of her spectacular wins..
well anyway let’s see..here’s an interesting fact.
“The JRA purse structure is one of the richest in the world. As of 2007, a typical JRA maiden race for three year olds carries a purse of ¥9.55 million (about US$83,000), with ¥5 million (about US$43,000) paid to the winner. Purses for graded stakes races begin at around ¥75 million (about US$650,000).”
I’ll just slip this in while I’m gathering my thoughts. Horsemeat seems to be quite a delicacy in Kumamoto (as ghoti once mentioned) so maybe that’s where most of the racing “donkeys” end up - on a plate.
Possibly overoften can follow this up with a Post about a visit to a Basashi diner entitled “How I ate a Racehorse”
at least I’ve got something to keep me occupied and out of the way for a while - and who knows? I might learn something interesting.
(to be cont’d)
remora
it’s when you deliberately don’t go looking for something, that it sneaks up behind you, and taps you on the shoulder…
“Japan’s total consumption of horsemeat in 2004 was 15,520 tonnes, representing the slaughter of more than 50,000 horses. Trade figures show that 8,840 tonnes were imported, meaning 6,680 tonnes were processed domestically. It was a Japanese slaughterhouse where the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand met his end. Adored by thousands when racing, he was disposed of because of his failure at stud in the U.S. and later Japan.”
Kentucky Derby Winner one day and plate of Basashi the next..life is just so cruel.
where was the Horse Viagra i wonder?
*I’ll plough on with this, now that I’ve got the bit between my teeth.*
rem.
well on further investigation, it seems as though Ferdinand’s fate was to end up in a can as pet food!!
“While the Japanese are among the societies that consume horse meat, it is more likely a slaughtered Thoroughbred would be used for pet food, since the meat consumed by humans is a certain breed of horse raised specifically for that purpose. The slaughter of no longer useful imported breeding stock and many domestic Japanese Thoroughbreds is not uncommon. Shortages of land and the high cost of maintaining..”
http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/17051.htm
if you’ve got the time to read it, the whole story is particularly saddening.
*I hope Yoshikazu Watanabe met a equally gruesome end.*
remora
the following information can be slotted in under “Useful terms to know at a Japanese Racetrack”
(I rather like the wry humor of No.3)
English : Japanese
Horseracing : Keiba
Racing paper : Keiba shinbun
Penniless : Okera
Betting ticket : Baken
odds over 100 times : Man Baken
The favorite( Most likely to win) : Honmei
Outsider : Ana uma
Horse : Uma
Turf : Shiba
Grade race : Jusho
Giddyup rem, we’ve got a way to go yet with this topic.
and here’s another one that might be headed for the knackery if he doesn’t pull his fetlock-socks up.
“http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/43649.htm
hence..”Not tonite darling! I’m feeling a bit knackered”
*y’know all this reading about horse racing and breeding in Japan is jolly absorbing stuff - if not downright fascinating*
Thanks Brian
remora
sorry minor glitch, that link should be (War Emblem)
http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/43649.htm
Tally ho
rem.
it had crossed my mind as to why War Emblem was a bit reticent when came to the mating game, but animal homosexuality is not something that I am exactly knowledgeable about - in fact I’m totally ignorant,like most other things that I seem to write about.
Nevertheless, you can imagine my surprise when I came across an article which raises the question..”Is he Gay?”
http://www.outsports.com/wire/20030617waremblem.htm
is this this something the breeders at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido might do well to consider.
rem.
and before anybody jumps in and trots out tired old statements like
“Well it sounds like he must be a horses-hoof”!..” forget it, i’m trying to give Brian’s post the dignity it deserves.
thankyou
remora
and not forgetting that somebody has to ride these wonderful intelligent animals, so I guess I should mention one of the better known jockeys.
http://www.jockeysroom.com/ytake.htm
Yutaka Take - who is from an illustrious racing family and who although a champion, has had a chequered career in recent times.
He is sort of like the Frankie Totori of Japan, although he now rides principally in Europe.
P.S.
I am having a lot of fun writing around this subject of Horse Breeding in Japan; I am learning a lot of interesting things and it’s better than arguing ten-to-the-dozen with somebody about something that I couldnt’ve given a toss about in the first place.
*This is non-controversial and of interest to me.*
(to be cont’d)
remora
and don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten Female Jockeys either - it’s just that I am having a hard time finding a webpage that is English.
I do know that the first female jockey was Yukiko Makihara..and little more than that.
(except I found this strange titled book)
“Nobuhiro, Nagashima ‘The cult of Oguricao: or, how women changed the social value of Japanese horse-racing”
sounds academic to me! - probably has a lot of big words that I wouldn’t understand.
(but Lady Japundette’s I didn’t leave you out - O.K.?.)
remora
well I did manage to find several mentions of Female Jockeys (one by a certain person by the name of B.Hills..not unknown to readers of Japundit in regard to another matter).
and this one, which I PREFER, for reasons I would rather keep to myself.
“Best Female Jockey” competition was at its highest level and for the first time in the history of the NAR Awards, three jockeys tied for the honors. The winners were Hitomi Miyashita (Aichi), Akane Yamamoto (Aichi), the winner of the Best Apprentice Jockey award and Mai Beppu (Kochi).”
there are photo’s of the aforementioned Ladies here. (scroll to bottom of page).
http://japanracing.jp/japan/nargp-2006.html
remora
also, it seems that every sport in Japan comes with an accompanying on-line game, so if you can’t be bothered worrying about equine influenza or getting stuck with a stallion who prefers to Canter on the Wild Side of the Corral.. but would like to try your hand at breeding,training and racing your own virtual stable of nags you can always try this.
http://home.fuse.net/jimmassie/docwe/docgame.html
The Derby Owners Club by Sega….apparently it seems to be hugely popular
*getting near the final straight on this subject now i think*
rem.
I saved this for last as it probaly needs to be mentioned in the light of recent events in thoroughbred racing (elsewhere in the world).
Whether this article is accurate or not (who am I to judge) it just happens to be the first one I looked at.
There is a statement contained within it regarding Japan.
“Horse racing standards in Japan and throughout Europe are stricter than in the United States, especially in regard to drug use. It’s incredible that this country doesn’t even have a national organization to govern the sport. Each state has its own rules, and questionable practices by horse trainers are common.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_9191111?nclick_check=1
I used to accompany my parents to the races quite often and because they were quite elderly and my legs were a lot younger and sturdier the job of putting their bets on with various bookmakers fell to me (naturally) and because I’m not inclined to gambling, it left me with quite a bit of spare time to wander around the racecourse and look at the horses and various other things that go into making a “Day at the Races” a relaxing outing.
Horse are beautiful creatures and I believe they enjoy racing.
Now I’m sure that a lot of people out there will have a different opinion and you are welcome to it.
Thanks again Brian for this Post. (I’m finished)
remora
Remora - so glad you enjoyed the article and the opportunity! I guess you never can predict the reception or lack thereof that an article will solicit. Continued happy reading.
Brian
thanks Brian - I learnt a lot about horse racing in Japan.
remora
gee’s I go away for a minute & remora is talking about old nags & young fillys…
well next time robyn, you will have to remember to close the stable door - because the horse has already bolted on this post long ago..
(*_*)
remora