Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 232 Summer's Second Act

Chapter 232 The Second Act of Summer
On a morning in early August, the cicadas were chirping so loudly it was almost unbearable.

At 4:30 a.m., I got up and started working, even earlier than in winter.

After finishing the morning rounds and examinations of the stables, I didn't go for a nap as usual.

After quickly packing up, I jumped into the passenger seat of the pickup truck, clutching the auction registration booklet that was as thick as a brick.

Before he could even finish yawning, Zepp in the driver's seat had already turned the key and started the engine.

The destination is the Hokkaido market, a 40-minute drive away.

The Hokkaido Selected Event, which concluded last month, ultimately only sold one Wizard Queen 2026 arowana.

Because of the slightly higher price, the cost-effectiveness of some horses that originally seemed quite good has decreased considerably.

It's just a little disappointing.

However, the auction season is not over yet.

Following the selection session is the summer auction, featuring over 1,300 headstocks.

Despite having a clear goal of "acquiring breeding mares," it's still impossible to keep track of everything.

Fortunately, after experiencing several auctions, both Kitano and the ranch members have become much more skilled.

Candidates are initially selected based on pedigree and photos, and their legs and throats are checked by checking the ranch's official website and social media accounts.

Therefore, when actually judging a horse, you only need to confirm the direction of its feet, gait, ball joints, neck and jaw muscles, etc., to greatly narrow down the range.

After selecting the final auction candidates, the next step is the valuation stage.

Generally speaking, stallions in good condition and without any problems listed in the auction catalog will fetch a higher price than expected.

Therefore, simply selecting a horse that you think is good usually makes it difficult to buy it at the expected price.

We must find those horses that are good but whose bloodlines are not very popular from the candidate horses.

However, this is only from the perspective of the horse owner.

From a breeder's perspective, mares are actually more popular.

Especially for mares with deep maternal lineage, their competitors are often breeders from other ranches.

Since the stallions used for future breeding may not be limited to Japan, considerations regarding bloodline matching are much more complex than usual.

It took Kitano and the ranch members quite a long time to finally select the initial target from thousands of animals.

It's roughly around thirty heads.

Upon arriving at the Hokkaido market, the parking lot was already nearly full.

It is said that the hotel in Jingnei and the hotel with COVID-19 were booked a year ago.

For small and medium-sized horse owners, who make up more than 90% of the industry, the summer auction is their real stage to shine.

After getting off the bus, Kitano couldn't help but yawn repeatedly.

Starting at 8:00 AM, there will be a total of six comparative presentations.

Before the auction officially began at 11:30, the auction manual had to be checked again against the list of absentees and the actual condition of the horses.

On the way to the display area, most of the horse owners and trainers still had signs of being unconscious.

The exhausted figures, especially those from Tomakomaki and even Chitose, made one wonder how they had endured five days of fierce fighting.

Before the exhibition even started, the scorching summer heat had already seeped into the skin.

Kitano wiped the sweat that had trickled down his chin as he and the hoof trimmer weaved through the sweltering heat of the crowd.

"It hasn't gotten any cooler at all—"

"After all, even in Hokkaido, it's still summer now."

Just standing in the sun doing nothing will quickly make you sweat profusely.

Many of the one-year-old horses on display also had pitiful-looking dark circles under their eyes.

For most horse owners, this can significantly interfere with their actual judgment.

Of course, Kitano doesn't have such worries.

Even so, under the dual scorching heat of high temperatures and the throngs of people, observation itself became an absolute physical task.

The radio kept broadcasting announcements about preventing heatstroke.

The phone also vibrated at that moment.

Zepp swiped open his screen first. "Boss, the Hidaka authorities have issued a red alert!"

The German said it in a somewhat exaggerated tone.

Soon, similar complaints came from the surrounding crowd.

However, the comparative presentation continues.

Approaching a small, seemingly unremarkable deer-haired pony that few people approached to talk to, Kitano used the [detector] for the first time today.

"The reproductive properties of instantaneous power seem pretty good."

It seems to be a great start.

However, the slight excitement quickly subsided.

"It's hard to be temperamental—"

No wonder she's the daughter of that goldsmith.

When Zep looked away, he had just had time to squat down and examine the pony's hooves.

"Watch out, you might get kicked."

"No, that child looks so—"

Before he could finish speaking, the deer-haired pony seemed to be deliberately echoing Kitano's words, sticking out its hooves.

Although he dodged in time, Zep was still startled.

"I already told you to be careful."

"You are right, Boss."

After bidding farewell to the stable boy and pony, who were constantly apologizing, the Germans became even more cautious during the subsequent observation process.

As for Kitano——

To outsiders, it was at best just a aimless stroll like a novice horse owner.

Nevertheless, many stable hands at small ranches would still enthusiastically introduce him when they saw him approaching.

"This child has a short temper."

Having completed the observation of yet another target, Kitano sighed with some complicated feelings.

Compared to the November auction in Kienland and the recent Hokkaido selection, the horses featured in the summer auction were somewhat disappointing.

Surprisingly, it's not uncommon for some to possess reproductive traits.

but--

The frequency of negative characteristics also increased significantly.

In particular, characteristics he had never seen before, such as premature aging, small stumps, fragility, and a tendency to gain weight, broadened his horizons considerably.

"That's it for now."

After glancing at the time, Kitano decided to leave the crowd and head to the venue early to secure a seat.

There were already many targets to observe on the first day, and the sweltering heat forced him to abandon all six rounds of demonstrations.

Especially considering that Zep beside him was already in a pitiful state, on the verge of collapse.

"You go in first, Zep."

His steps suddenly stopped.

"Oh, then I'll—"

Zep responded listlessly.

"Forget it, let's go."

Kitano shook his head to interrupt, and then took the lead in walking towards the venue.

The stable boy behind him immediately looked disappointed.

After some time, Kitano expressionlessly closed the panel in front of him.