Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 238 Ten Years and One Year

During the three days of the auction, Kitano didn't even have a chance to make a single bid.

So much so that he started thinking, "Instead of continuing to waste time, I should stay on the ranch and do more work."

However, the summer auction, which was scheduled for the last day, was still included in the agenda.

The goal is not just the one originally envisioned.

Some ranch owners are also considering selling horses for less than five million yen.

The main targets are unpopular horses that are small in size or born late.

It's not that I suddenly became so short of money that I could only afford these things.

Should auction subsidies be used?

Many horse buyers who attend auctions consider this question.

It originated in the southern Kanto region, but as local horse racing revenue and popularity have rebounded in recent years, more and more local horse owners' associations have begun to provide auction subsidies for new horses entering the stable and debuting in their local area.

For projects with a pre-tax price of five million yen or more, a subsidy of 40% or 50% is provided. This is the standard form of subsidy across the country.

In places like Oi and Hyogo, the threshold was set at an even higher eight million yen.

However, the mainstream approach is still a subsidy of five million yen.

The rule is that subsidies must be applied for through the horse trainer.

Therefore, by the time of the auction, the racetrack and stables for the horses to be purchased have been basically finalized, and the owners often select and purchase horses together with the trainers.

The problem is that the auctions are filled with too many combinations of trainers and subsidized horse owners.

In such situations, trainers tend to be optimistic about prices, while horse owners are more pessimistic.

If there's a horse within the budget with a starting bid of four million yen that looks decent, the trainer might worry that the price won't meet the subsidy threshold.

Horse owners, on the other hand, worry that horses chosen by trainers will be in high demand, and even those exceeding their budget of five or six million yen may not be able to be purchased.

If the auction continues in this atmosphere, a somewhat subtle phenomenon will emerge—

Horses priced near the subsidy threshold often become unusually unpopular.

Horse buyers who don't mind the subsidy threshold either already achieved their purchase goal in an earlier select auction or directly bid for horses priced at over ten million yen.

These buyers weren't buying because they received a subsidy; they were already planning to buy anyway.

The subsidies are just icing on the cake, so this policy has little impact on them.

The real challenge lies with small horse owners who are trying to use subsidies to get by on the edge of the threshold.

In the first two days of the auction, people often think that since there is a subsidy, they should try to choose stallions rather than mares, with a popular pedigree and a larger body size.

But gradually, the bidding process failed.

So around the third day, the idea will start to waver.

“A mare is fine too. The bloodline doesn’t have to be popular. It can be small, but I’m betting on its potential for growth.”

However, others are usually making the same adjustments to their strategies.

And so, the car kept crashing until the very last day of the auction.

However, this trouble is temporarily irrelevant to Kitano.

Perhaps he had used up too much luck, because in his third year as a horse owner, he had never won a single subsidy draw.

On the bright side, there's no need to keep a close eye on those horses that might reach the subsidy threshold.

The choice of goals has also become more flexible.

certainly--

This is just self-comforting talk.

"I wish I could win just once."

This resentment had reached the point where it was about to spill out.

No, it has already been said aloud.

"No matter how much you complain, there won't be any subsidies this year."

Zepp, in the driver's seat, mercilessly delivered the final blow.

"Isn't the original intention of the subsidy to cultivate active racehorses that train at the racetrack throughout the race and become its signature horses in the future?"

"But the lottery process really is all about luck." A disheartening silence followed.

Arriving at the Hokkaido market, the weather was still as hot as it had been a few days ago.

They weren't deliberately looking for anything; they just wandered around the different exhibition areas as if they were just strolling around.

"This child seems to have a grassy physique."

"It's muddy."

"The legs of this one look a little too soft."

That's true.

"These hooves are probably more muddy."

"Hmm, it's rare that you guessed right."

Kitano and Zep walked side by side toward the temporary stables behind the exhibition area, chatting about these things as they went.

The people being reviewed are mostly unpopular little horses.

As for the target, it was zero.

Because the ranch has limited capacity, some years are good for buying horses, while others require patience.

This year should be considered a year that requires patience.

In particular, the Keenland November auction, a major goal for the year, also needs to be considered.

"Let's walk around a couple of times and then head to the venue."

After glancing at the time, Kitano looked up and said.

When a horse's pedigree and physical appearance are not particularly outstanding, it becomes naturally more difficult to discover a horse with decent potential.

Although there were a few ponies that were reasonably priced, Kitano did not casually include them in his initial target list.

The horse racing industry is like a village society, with a very high barrier to entry.

On the other hand, it is also very inclusive and has a wide coverage.

From the perspective of breeders, it is not necessary to win in order to survive.

At JRA, the producer awards are given to the top five.

On one side of the auction, local horse owners now have fairly sufficient purchasing power.

As long as you choose to breed with popular stallions to a certain extent, the foals produced by the ranch can generally still be sold.

however--

Since you chose to start this business and worked hard for it, it would be meaningless if you only did it to make a living.

Horse racing is really fun.

Over the past few years, fun and rationality have always been a consideration.

However, it's time to think more objectively and reform it as a cause.

It takes at least ten years to build even the smallest ranch brand.

This year marks the first year of Mejiro Ranch.

There is still plenty of time, but it will pass quickly.

Although Kitano doesn't have a clear dream like Kimura's—to be "faster than the fastest"—he also hopes to leave his mark on the industry.

"A horse race of possibilities."

This is the goal he set for himself.

"Hey, what?"

Zepp, who was leaning over to examine the small horse's hooves, spoke in a somewhat muffled voice.

"nothing."

Kitano shook his head slightly, bent down, and went into the observation room with the hoof trimmer.

"Let's take a look at the horses in the stable together."

(End of this chapter)