Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 278 HIP26
Halloween passed peacefully.

November is still being spent in the United States.

There are no direct flights from Japan to Lexington; passengers must transfer in Chicago, Dallas, or Atlanta.

Including layover time, a one-way trip can take sixteen to twenty hours, and anyone who has experienced it once will know that it is not an easy journey.

but--

Starting from North America makes things much easier.

The flight was not delayed, and surprisingly, the journey from New York to Lexington, Kentucky went relatively smoothly.

Upon landing at Lexington Bluegrass Airport, a place I've visited more than once, I was greeted by a variety of photos of horses.

On the way to the hotel in a rental car, some of the drivers, who were quite friendly, mentioned that the neighboring city of Paris even has a mural dedicated to the tranquility of Sundays.

As I rode in the swaying rental car, the sounds gradually became blurred in my ears.

Last year, I mainly participated in the first volume, which has the most prestigious reputation. This time, I plan to focus on the second and third volumes, which are slightly later, in addition to the second volume and Anna.

Apart from some newly added breeding mares with unclear pedigrees or poor racing records, the auction lists in Volumes 2 and 3 also include many applications for breeding mares submitted by local ranches.

At recent Hokkaido selection events, foals of breeding mares imported from the United States have typically fetched higher prices than those of native mares.

From initial breeding and selection to the cultivation and training of racehorses, there is still a visible gap between Japan and the United States.

This is a principle that even the foolish buyer, whom Ms. Lianxu described as "whose preferences are entirely based on the size of the horse," could understand.

If possible, try to acquire a horse with a breeding track record at a more affordable price, other than Divine Anna.

As I was thinking this, the driver said "We've arrived" and stepped on the brakes.

It's a very short five-minute drive from the airport to my accommodation, the Eighth Pole Inn.

The reason it's described as a residence rather than a hotel or inn is because—

A gray-haired man strode over to the entrance of the manor-like building.

Naoya Yoshida is quite well-known as a liaison between Japan and the United States and as a horse breeder.

Upon learning that Kitano planned to attend the Kienland November auction as he had the previous year, Naoya offered to host him.

"You've finally arrived, President Kitano!"

Unlike the traditional appearance of Japanese people, Naoya's outstretched hand was quite powerful.

I had no choice but to shake hands back, but the other person was being far too intimate.

They've practically become like the Americans without borders—

The American horse breeders following behind Naoya were equally enthusiastic.

For these overly cooperative reactions, I could only manage to get by with forced smiles and explanations of travel fatigue.

That being said, Mr. Yoshida was indeed a great help.

Upon learning that Kitano was looking for a "cost-effective, high-performing mare," Naoya pulled out a tattered handbook and pointed to a few pages without hesitation.

"This foal, which bred a few years ago, has been performing consistently, but it may fetch a slightly higher price than expected."

"This one has good bloodlines, and its breeding mate this year is worth looking forward to."

"This one is pretty good in all aspects, but the reserve price is a bit too high."

A series of similar comments followed.

No wonder he's a horse racing agent—

That dedication is truly admirable. After noting down the mares recommended by Naoya, I sincerely thanked him for his cooperation.

After putting away my not-so-large amount of luggage, I ran into Naoya again in front of the fireplace in the lobby on the first floor.

After hanging up the phone, the "half-Japanese-American" horse breeder made an inviting gesture.

So the two of them lazily sank into the sofa in front of them, chatting idly by the fireplace.

"Has President Kitano considered purchasing a yearling horse from the United States?"

A foal or breeding mares purchased at a Keenland auction will be immediately delivered to the buyer's ranch after the auction ends.

However, it is said that the practice of buying yearlings at auctions and then importing them to Japanese breeding farms for further training and development around May when they are about one year old has become a trend among horse breeders in Japan.

Alternatively, they could be bred in Florida until they are two years old in the spring, and then imported, with the horses going directly to training centers or racetracks after quarantine.

"At present, there are no such plans."

My understanding of ranches in the United States is quite superficial, let alone the kind of ranch I would feel comfortable entrusting my foals to.

As for bringing the purchased horse back to Japan that same year—

Mejiro Ranch is now so saturated with young foals that even grazing is becoming difficult to manage.

Even if the pitifully small space of the ranch is temporarily set aside, there are other reasons to restrict the foals.

In the past few days, when I contacted the ranch, I heard Lavid complain a lot about the lack of manpower.

Buying a promising young foal based on your own preferences is certainly exciting, but the subsequent issues to consider are far more complex than that.

The process of arranging transportation, quarantine, and coordinating with Mr. Ogawa and the stables was already chaotic during the first contact.

"Is that so? I was even thinking of taking this opportunity to recommend the children produced by our ranch to President Kitano."

A hint of regret flashed across Naoya's face, but he quickly moved on to the next topic.

"In America, horse racing is very fast."

Besides the speed of the races, the entire operation of the horse racing world is also a fast pace that Japanese breeders cannot comprehend.

It is said that the production ranches here basically set their breeding targets for the following year within the year, and the relevant breeding rights negotiations will begin long before the breeding season.

Some ranches even started before the Breeders' Cup.

No wonder—

Recalling the experience of being cleanly and decisively rejected by Lanes Ende Ranch, I finally understand some of the hidden reasons behind it.

In addition, they learned from Naoya that Lexington and Shin-Hidaka were sister cities.

Although Lexington's main industries are horse racing and automobiles, it does indeed resemble a slightly larger version of Shin-Hidaka.

We chatted aimlessly for quite a long time, until my waist and legs felt noticeably numb, before we finally ended the conversation.

Back in the room, I spread out the first volume of the auction catalog on the table.

One of the pages that was turned to the right had a clear mark made with a pen.

【HIP 26】

[Mighty Anna]

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"【@godolphin
At the Keenland November auction tomorrow and the day after, Godolphin Horse Consignment will be showcasing horses all day long!
Good luck to everyone!!!

——Godolphin
(End of this chapter)