Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 284 November for the Horse Breeders

It was raining early in the morning in Lexington.

Silver droplets fell from the gray sky, and in just one day it became the season to bundle up.

That being said, the rain was not heavy enough to affect takeoff.

The sky seen through the glass window was completely different from when I arrived.

Or rather, the sky is not visible at all.

The rain was hitting the window, and it was almost impossible to see the scenery outside through the raindrops.

So I put on a blindfold before takeoff.

The return trip to Japan was much more troublesome than the journey there, taking almost a whole day.

First, fly from Lexington to Chicago's O'Hare Airport.

Domestic flights to Chicago take about an hour, with a layover here.

O'Hare Airport has a total of five terminals, but I managed to navigate them smoothly using a navigation app on my phone.

Although I've never been here before, I wouldn't get lost because of it.

What a convenient era!

New Chitose Airport

It was already evening when we arrived in Japan.

To save as much money as possible, I opted for a budget flight on the return trip.

In return, I experienced something only slightly better than swimming across the Pacific Ocean back to Japan.

Back at the ranch, it was completely dark.

"I'm back--"

Even he himself was slightly startled by the weariness in his voice.

Passing through the entryway, which is only dimly lit by a nightlight, I stepped into the lounge.

Even before opening the paper door, I could smell a rich fragrance.

The atmosphere was like a banquet, with a lavish spread on the low table, a sight rarely seen before.

The commune members were already seated around the table.

The beer and soft drinks had already been opened, and the group was chatting and drinking.

"Thank you for your hard work, Boss."

As he spoke, Zep opened the small refrigerator next to him and took out a can of carbonated beverage.

"Thanks. Has anything been happening at the ranch lately?"

Open the pull tab, and the foam will pop out with a small "whoosh" sound in the next second.

With this sound as a starting point, the casual conversation at the table suddenly became more frequent.

"Huibang is still a bit of a problem. But it seems that her relationship with Sister Duobo has become very good."

"Maybe that's why his temper is even worse—"

A rant from Rachel Ho.

"I would be very grateful if I could learn anything else from Sister Duobo."

Smiling and shaking his head, Kitano picked up his carbonated drink and took a sip.

A faint, tingling sensation followed the cool foam as it slid down my throat and into my stomach, and it felt as if much of my fatigue had vanished in that instant.

It tastes even better than usual.

"Anna did buy it after all, even though I knew it would turn out this way."

Kikuchi sighed dramatically.

"In that case, we'll have to arrange for stud horses to be selected next year. Also, where did this title of 'Anna' even come from?!"

As he spoke, Ravid turned and looked over.

"Do you breed stallions?"

In the end, they managed to get away with it by saying they would "go to the UK for a research trip and then talk about it."

"The windbreak is almost finished, and the remaining fence should be completed in the next couple of days."

"It's great that we were able to activate the windbreak grazing area before it started snowing."

Kikuchi clapped his hands with a smile.

"The bit on Huixiang was a bit tight at first, and it was so tight that it bled yesterday, which gave me quite a fright."

"Fortunately, the check-up revealed nothing serious. It's amazing that the child was bleeding but still running around like nothing was wrong."

"And his momentum is really incredible. If it weren't for Aru-chan and Dob-nee's help, we wouldn't have been able to catch him at all." "Haha, Ravid-kun is exhausted."

"My groin area still hurts a lot."

As Rachel Ho vividly recounted the scene, everyone couldn't help but smile.

"The taming of Huiyue and Huixing is going very smoothly, and their appetites are also very strong."

"It's already a bit too vigorous. If we don't control it, it might turn into a guy like Teruhime who's always 'bakubaku'."

"That's true. Huiwan's foot is putting a little strain on it, and if this continues, it might affect the normal growth curve of the hoof wall."

"After all, that child is always eating, whether he's in the stable or herding."

"So it really is time to lose weight—"

The dinner, which could be considered a celebration, ended amidst laughter and chatter.

This was followed by night patrols.

While yawning and checking the stables, he scrolled through the unread messages piled up on his phone.

[I successfully acquired the child character recommended by Kitano-kun; I really love her face!]

The message came from Mr. Kimura, along with a photo of him with someone he admires.

The peace sign and such are just so outdated!

Congratulations!

A reply came within ten seconds of sending the message.

The final price was $180,000, exactly $1,000 more than the reserve price (laughs).

This time, I've included a group photo from a different angle.

It's still a peace sign, isn't it?

As for the price that was suppressed by the main trading line, there was nothing unexpected about that.

After all, in auctions in the United States, Japan, or any other country, empty-fetused mares of many years are usually not as popular as conceived ones.

My plan is to breed them in Kentucky next year and then import them as pregnant mares.

After all, these are rare Kentucky horses; it would be a waste if their advantages weren't effectively utilized.

This is quite in line with Mr. Kimura's usual style of speaking.

After purchasing yearlings and breeding mares abroad, instead of immediately importing them, we patiently raise and train them in their country of origin.

This was the approach recommended to the two by Mr. Ogawa.

However, for Kitano, at least this time, there's no way to try.

Putting breeding aside for now, the most urgent task is to adjust Shenwei Anna's "athlete-level" muscles to a muscle type more suited to breeding mares.

Those terrifying hindquarter muscles, clearly visible to the naked eye—

If the horse were to be used for breeding in its current physical condition, it could be a disaster for the horse itself, the foals, and even the stallions it is paired with.

Of course, further assessments of Anna's muscle and hormone levels will have to wait until she arrives in Hokkaido.

If I remember correctly, the expert in this field is—

Good evening, Master.

【explain】

How about you do me another favor in a few days?

This will not be repeated.

The night is still long.

After putting away my phone, I officially began the nighttime inspection of the stables.

Although it has only been a few weeks, I can clearly feel the growth that is happening in the yearlings.

For horse breeders, this is a kind of happiness that only they can truly understand.

"You can't eat sawdust, Teruhime!"

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"This business trip allowed me to get closer to Kentucky's horse racing industry, which was a very rare opportunity for a breeder from a foreign country."

Although I may not be able to go every year, this is a place I would like to visit again.

Everything I learned in Kentucky was extremely valuable for ranch operations in Japan.

—Interview with Yuki Kitano, representative of the ranch, in "Id○l Horse" - "Global Perspective: Breeders' November in Kelantan"
By He Jianshi

(End of this chapter)