Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 180: Cloudless Sky
It was the first Sunday in February and the wind was still biting cold.

The Kyoto Racecourse was already bustling with people just after noon. Even though there was only one big race on the day, the enthusiasm of horse fans remained undiminished.

Looking at the huge crowd pouring out of Yodo Station not far away, Kitano, who was sitting on the horse owner's farewell bus, secretly broke into a cold sweat.

Fortunately, I didn’t take the tram today.

"See you later, President Kitano!"

The tall horse owner Sasaki patted him on the shoulder and strode into the field first.

Mixed in with a group of horse owners, Kitano also passed through the famous "Triple Crown Gate".

After entering the racecourse, the first thing to do is to take out your phone to check the time.

2:27 in the afternoon.

There is still nearly an hour left before the Ruzuki Sang which is scheduled to start at 3:30.

So he left the crowd of horse owners and turned to the other side of the racecourse.

Just as I was about to go around the Triple Crown Memorial Trail, I was suddenly stopped by someone.

"President Kitano, may I take a photo with you?"

Several young horse racing fans who had been gathering in front of the statue and taking photos came over.

"Ah, of course."

Kitano smiled and nodded, then posed for the photo.

"Have you met Gao Feng?"

One of them pointed to the bronze statue at the trail entrance.

The other eyes also focused on him curiously.

After walking a little closer, Kitano could clearly see the words on the plaque below the statue.

It is indeed the "Mejiro Peak".

This is totally unrecognizable—

"I've probably seen it a few times. But it's somewhat different from the statue."

After looking at it closely for a while, he couldn't help shaking his head.

"The belly should be a little bigger than the statue."

Amid the laughter of horse fans, he continued to move forward.

The Horse-Headed Guanyin further ahead is actually a vertical mottled stone.

While thinking blasphemous words in his mind, his hands were actually performing the worship obediently.

The water in the hand-washing area was a little cold, so I just touched it symbolically and then drew it out.

Bow twice and clap twice.

Except for occasions with strict requirements, this standard practice is followed wherever you visit a shrine.

The effect is——

At least in the past year, the three great gods, Dali, Godolphin and Bayer, have been quite favorable to him.

Spread your palms apart and open your eyes.

I didn't make any specific wishes, and when I put my hands together, I just naturally recalled the experiences of the past year.

He bowed one last time and then left the Horse-Headed Guanyin.

After walking down the stone steps, I noticed that there was an inconspicuous path on the other side.

A large crowd had gathered at the end of the road.

【Rice Bath Monument】

This is what was written on the sign.

After a little hesitation, he finally took a step forward.

Go and have a look.

Noticing footsteps coming from behind, the young horse fans who were paying homage turned their heads.

"Are you President Kitano?"

Many horse racing fans showed some subtle expressions on their faces.

Then, no one knew who took the lead, but the crowd quickly made way for a gap leading to the main body of the stone tablet.

The carrots and bouquets of flowers in front of the stone tablet had piled up so high that they blocked the few words at the bottom.

This is trouble.

He didn't bring any offerings.

Awkwardly, Kitano walked to the front of the stone monument, then, as if suddenly remembering something, reached into his pocket. He had habitually bought a small bag of mints when passing a convenience store not long ago.

Fortunately, it is still in unopened condition.

Mint candies were placed in front of the stone tablet and worship was performed in a manner that exceeded the standard.

"I hope you are well in heaven."

I couldn't help but feel a little heavy.

He unconsciously pursed his lips and completed the remaining steps in silence.

"Thank you, President Kitano."

When leaving, several horse racing fans dressed as Miyu fans suddenly bowed to Kitano.

Kitano, not knowing what was going on, had no choice but to bow quickly in response.

When we arrived at the reviewing ground, the seats near the railings were already packed with people, and the bustle was no less than that at the Oi Racecourse during the Grand Prix.

There was a mark in the center of the appearance circle, and Kitano walked to the round mat with a blue background and the Arabic numeral "6" written on it.

Including the four mares, there are a total of ten horses running out for today's Ruyueshang.

Atalanta will start the race from the gate position of six groups of six.

The most popular rider in the Ruzuki Award is Bakhta, who has won one of his two races and is the second runner-up in the Kyoto 2-year-old Championship in the 2000m G3 grass race.

Mejiro Atalanta won three out of three local competitions and ran a time of 4F53.2 seconds in the chase at Ritosakamichi, and was pushed to the fourth most popular.

According to Master Mashima's feedback, there is no problem with Atalanta's suitability for grasslands.

If there is any destabilizing factor in this competition, it is the disadvantages caused by the expedition.

Although she did not lose any significant weight, Atalanta refused to eat on the first day of arriving in Ritto.

With the patient soothing of Majima and Okizawa, the stable attendants, he finally ate a little grass mixed with apples.

It wasn't until the day before the competition that the mental tension began to ease slightly.

As a result, the stables became somewhat sluggish.

On the track of the reviewing ground, the running horses have begun to enter one after another.

Looking past Bakhta, who was in the first round, he quickly found Atalanta, who was obviously smaller than the other running horses.

He greeted the trainer and the stable boy, who were busy dealing with Atalanta, but they only nodded briefly in response.

"Good afternoon, President."

Sasagawa came out of the preparation room and first walked to the center of the grass to greet Kitano.

"please."

Kitano bowed slightly, and the strong wind blew his hair into a mess.

"Yes, please leave it to me."

A look of determination flashed across the rider's face. After bowing in response, he trotted towards Atalanta.

Amidst the cheers, although Atalanta was a little timid, she did not go berserk in an instant.

The rider patted the chestnut horse's neck to soothe it, then climbed onto its back with a light movement.

Kitano, who had been looking at Atalanta, breathed a sigh of relief.

"It looks okay—"

As he was thinking this, a man wearing a burgundy bowler hat and looking like Master Yahagi from behind walked past him.

"Thank you for your hard work, Master Subei!"

The strange horse owner warmly embraced the man called Master Xu Bei and took several photos of the two of them with his mobile phone.

So your last name is Subei—

I thought that the person I met was either Master Yahagi or a relative of Master Yahagi.

After the review of the debut circle, the horses finally started heading towards the track.

Looking up at the sky, I saw no clouds at all.

It's a super good place.

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"【Kurozuki-sho Chaikiri】

Bakhta, who was in the second move of Kyoto 2-year-old S, instantly broke away and took the horse!

——"Eastern Sport Horse Racing"

(End of this chapter)