Dubai World Cup Day March 25, 2006 at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, UAE
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June 2006 Vol. 14 NO. 2 2 4 6 7 8 “Putting the Sport Two Japanese 2006 Sales Dates -NAR Topics- Japanese Graded Back into Racing” Horse Win on in Japan Derby Week Race Results – Interview with Dubai World Cup Dr. Koike, new Day Microchips President of JAIR to be Mandatory for Japanese Racehorses Born from 2007 Dubai World Cup Day March 25, 2006 at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, UAE Heart’s Cry won Dubai Sheema Classic (GI, Turf, 2400m) (c)Kiichi Yamamoto Utopia won Godolphin Mile (GII, Dirt, 1600m) “Putting the Sport Back into Racing” – Interview with Dr. Koike, new President of JAIR by Barbara Bayer and breeding ranks Global Racing Championship up there with the best.” The 62-year-old Koike, a seasoned A sticking point veteran with 40 years experience in the for Japan, how- JRA, not only believes Japan’s racing ever, had been the system has much to boast of, he wants number of races the world to become better acquainted open to foreign- with Japan’s horses and horsemen. based horses. Next In addition to more information com- year will see a total ing out of Japan through the printed of 110 races open word, websites and race simulcasts, to runners from Koike sees increased interaction in the overseas, which international arena as a key objective, should be suffi- not only for Japan, but for the industry cient for the final as a whole. nod. He envisions a global racing cham- High-profile pionship akin to soccer’s World Cup wins by Japanese for racing. “Who is the top horse in the horses abroad have world? Who is the top jockey or trainer? recently brought In racing, you don’t know and the fans Japan racing into don’t know. I want fans to be able to the world spot- say, ‘Our horse is fantastic, let’s root for Japan has, says Dr. Naoaki Koike, light. More than a sudden rise in level, him.’ Get the national pride behind them reached “a memorial year.” It is a year however, Koike sees the recent success as they do in other sports,” he urges. that sees the country poised to attain the as a result of many factors. “In addition “Racing still lags far behind other coveted “Part 1” status as determined by to a lot of good breeding, there has been sports as far as international competi- the International Cataloguing Standards progress in pre-training, training, the lo- tion is concerned,” Koike says, pointing Committee. Japan is under review and gistics of transportation, how to transport out that present global series, though an the new President and CEO of the JAIR, horses with the least amount of stress to important start, are often unwieldy, with feels confi dent the country’s racing will them, etc. Japanese have gotten good at races scheduled in such a way as to make be recognized as the top-level endeavor this and are seeing the cumulative effect it impossible for one horse to participate it is. of their efforts,” Koike says. Also, “Japa- in all. “Being designated Part 1 means a nese horsemen have become very West- Koike admits a type of World Cup country’s racing is a model for the in- ernized in their thinking. Trainers realize for horses would not be easy. A number dustry,” explains Koike, “and our racing they’re making athletes.” of problems exist, not only the cost of transporting horses and, naturally, the too much gam- difficulty in maintaining top condition bling, there will be for the animals, but bigger obstacles no time to work,” such as quarantine and a lack of stand- says Koike. ardization of racing rules, stewarding, In addition to in- handicapping and drug laws. “We’ve creased interaction got to lower the hurdles worldwide and in international make it easier to go,” he says. events, the JAIR Doping is a big problem. “Take the Ol- President says he ympics. You don’t have different drugs also hopes to see allowed in different countries that hold more Japanese the Games. Track and fi eld doesn’t allow horsemen going this and that, period, no matter where abroad to live you are.” Quarantine is another obstacle, while working in and Koike hopes that governments will the racing industry. also be willing to move on making cer- Unlike the national tain changes to facilitate racing. “Race level, the situation horses are some of the cleanest animals continues to be dire in local, municipal- of the trainer, discuss what results these around,” he says. “How many of us get government sponsored racing in Japan. efforts may have and the horse’s chances checked nearly daily?” “There is a lot of talent there, though,” of winning.” Failing to do this, Koike be- Koike acknowledges that certain races, Koike says, and “I want to see more lieves, will result in a loss of fans, and he such as the 3-year-old classics, are better trainers and jockeys taking those talents hopes the dropping turnovers are waking suited to national competitions alone, but abroad and working with them.” JRA people up to this reality. “The JRA sees the races for older horses as offering In addition to increased participation in is not suffering. There are horses. There a great opportunity for heated interna- the global arena, and perhaps as prereq- are fans. But, my question is, ‘Is this tional competition. uisite to it, Koike emphasizes the need enough? Is it OK to be satisfi ed with just to raise the Japanese public’s awareness this?’ ” International Betting and insight into horse-racing as a sport. “There is more to racing than gambling,” International Mindset The increasing number of simulcasts he points out, “and I want the sport on of Japan’s top-level races (currently 15) the front page.” Koike is speaking of the The past three years have seen Koike is something Koike considers good for extreme emphasis that Japanese media, as Japan’s representative in a number promotion of the country’s racing. He especially daily sports newspapers and of international committees and at in- also hopes to some day see local fans racing television programs, place on ternational conferences. “My mindset able to place wagers on overseas events, gambling. has become very international,” he says. such as the Breeder’s Cup in the U.S. or “This combination and that combina- “Something I am very grateful for. Until the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in which tion, it always comes back to betting. now I’d been focused on domestic con- a Japanese horse is participating. Japan’s That’s still the big thing (in Japan), a cerns, but now see the same problems strict racing law, which strives to keep focus on betting, the turnover, what exist everywhere. We are interdependent. a check on gambling while still earning off-track betting outlet had the high- There are things that cannot be worked revenue from it, prohibits the sale of rac- est turnover. This is important for those out alone, but need to be discussed and ing tickets for any races other than those within the industry, but they should be solved with others. sponsored by the JRA. A revision would recognized only as the result of other “It’s not enough to just promote the be necessary to open the betting win- efforts. Focusing on this just fuels the racing industry within one country. You dows to fans for races held abroad. “The gambling image. True, there are a lot of need to build partnerships throughout the limit on racing here now is 288 days a people who enjoy that, but it would be world and have good horses making the year and the thinking is that if there is good to focus on the horse, the efforts circuit.” Two Japanese Horses Win on Dubai World Cup Day by Kazuaki Takagi (c)Dubai Racing Club / Andrew Watkins Heart’s Cry won Dubai Sheema Classic. Owner: Shadai Race Horse Co., Ltd. Trainer: Kojiro Hashiguchi Jockey: Christophe Lemaire Utopia won Godolphin Mile. Owner: Makoto Kaneko Trainer: Kojiro Hashiguchi Jockey: Yutaka Take The results of Dubai World Cup Day, on the turf, while 6-year-old horse Uto- that, while they were unable to produce held March 25 at Nad al Sheba Race- pia took the 1,600-meter, GII Godolphin results, having Kane Hikili and the other course in Dubai, were renewed proof of Mile on dirt. horses entered was linked to Heart’s Japanese horses’ improved performanc- Being able to take on the challenge in Cry’s and Utopia’s successes. es. Along with Kane Hikili, a 4-year-old a group was no doubt one factor in the A detailed description of the two hors- colt trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, and Star two victories and a result that can be es’ marvelous triumphs follows. King Man, a 7-year-old horse trained by described as a successful conclusion for Seven graded races were run on Dubai Hideyuki Mori, appearing in the main GI “Team Japan’s” tour. Up to now, at most World Cup Day. The first Japanese en- Dubai World Cup (2,000 meters, dirt), a three or four horses raced overseas at the trant was in the second race, the Godol- total of nine horses were entered in six same time in the same country. There phin Mile. Dubai’s mile course has only events. Six GI horses made up a splen- have been no previous cases in which one turn. A long straightaway extends did group that bore no comparison to horses traveled in a group.