Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 381 Better Safe Than Sorry
With October fast approaching and the September auctions having just concluded, the autumn auctions are just around the corner.

As a horse owner and breeder, the auction season is naturally a busy time, and the ranch's two horse transport wagons have been lent out to relatives and neighbors for use around the clock recently.

However, since there were no plans for an autumn auction, the actual work at the ranch became somewhat easier.

Aside from receiving horse owners or breeders who visit the ranch during breaks in the auction, the majority of the focus is on yearlings.

Having started 24-hour herding earlier and just recovered from urticaria, Yuehuang finally began to gain weight in early autumn after weaning.

Although the increase is not large, the satisfaction gained from the process of breeding foals on the ranch is a completely different kind of satisfaction than winning a race as a horse owner.

—Including President Fujita and Sasaki, they once again declined numerous requests from familiar horse owners, whether joking or genuine.

We are far from being able to be content with the status quo.

During the following October and November, the temperature in Hidaka Mitsuishi did not become truly severe.

This is a valuable opportunity to make all necessary preparations.

There is still plenty of fresh hay in the pasture, but based on past years, it will dry up quickly after snowfall, at which point we will have to feed the animals hay in advance.

Thanks to the newly purchased agricultural machinery, the pasture has accumulated a large amount of hay to cope with the cold winter, even with limited manpower.

but--

With so many hungry creatures besieging us, this winter is likely to be a tough battle.

Regarding the departure of the Breeders' Cup.

"The child adapted to the quarantine at Meipu quickly, but seemed somewhat resistant to the veterinarians, and it took quite a bit of effort to draw blood."

I received this somewhat amusing report from Ikeda, the stable manager who will be accompanying Baozuo to the Breeders' Cup.

He still has some childish temper after all.

However, preparations for going abroad are progressing smoothly, and Professor Yoshida's on-site investigation in the United States is also reportedly proceeding smoothly.

For several years now, blood tests have been mandatory for all overseas horses that are planned to participate in the Breeders' Cup.

This is a prerequisite for entry as stipulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, designed to ensure that Breeders' Cup runaway horses can complete their 42-hour arrival quarantine period as quickly as possible at the Churchill Park quarantine barns.

Racehorses that fail to submit blood samples and obtain negative results before the start of overseas quarantine will not be allowed to be transported on the same flight as other runaway horses departing from Japan, according to regulations.

In addition, these racehorses must undergo a 42-hour import quarantine at an import quarantine facility near Los Angeles International Airport, rather than Churchill Park.

Unlike the quarantine area at the racetrack, LAX's import quarantine facility prohibits entry to stable-related personnel. During the 42-hour quarantine period, the racehorses will be cared for by the facility's staff.

This not only brings huge financial burdens, but may also pose significant risks to the physical and mental condition of the horses that have left the stable – especially in the case of two-year-old horses whose physical and mental condition is far from mature.

Having had experience with North American expeditions more than once, I reminded Professor Yoshida to send out the blood samples as soon as possible.

After the samples were collected, two of the four tubes were sent to a designated testing agency in the United States, while the remaining two tubes were kept by the shipping company responsible for liaising with the expedition, in case the testing agency requests additional samples.

In addition, race organizers staff have arrived in Japan after their registration was confirmed and are about to begin drug testing for the Breeders' Cup pre-race.

—If you are unlucky enough to contract a disease that you would normally recover from quickly at this time, then at least within the testing window, you can only use non-pharmaceutical conservative treatments.

Therefore, during this period, the stable staff and assistants who stayed in Japan with Yoshida stayed by Baozuo's side almost every moment to take care of him. Even the slightest change in body temperature would startle everyone, and they would send several messages in the expedition group.

Even Tagi, the expedition veterinarian from Miura's side, couldn't help but comment, "Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?"

but--

Since becoming a horse owner, "Better Safe Than Sorry" has always been my guiding principle.

Although this has caused a lot of seemingly unnecessary trouble for myself and those I'm connected with.

That morning, after completing his part of the construction on the platform for getting on and off the carriages, Ravid was unusually absent from the lounge.

The staff quarters, which have been renovated twice into townhouse-style buildings, have been bustling with activity for the past few days. In the two adjacent dormitories, the Lavid couple share one room and Arian shares the other. You can easily guess that the manager is endlessly tidying up something in advance.

Logically, Ravid's wife, who was also employed as a contractual employee, should have been assigned a dormitory room, but according to the wishes of the parties involved, the couple were assigned together.

—We're one step further away from filling the staff quarters designed for 15 people.

"That's strange, where did you put it?"

"what happened?"

Even after everyone in the lounge finished their morning break and strolled away, Ravid was still wandering around in the corridor outside the dormitory, muttering to himself.

So, Asayama, who was walking in front of the group, asked.

"I can't find the hand cream and electric blanket I ordered, but the order status shows that they have been delivered."

"Hmm, the president probably just put it in the storage room along with the packages sent from overseas, right?"

As they said this, their gazes turned towards each other.

"It seems that's true. I put those packages of different sizes on the storage rack in the common room."

He thought for a moment, then pointed to another room next to him.

"Is this the place? Thank you!"

Wearing indoor shoes, Ravid hurriedly ran towards the common room.

“If it were Mr. Lavida himself, he wouldn’t even consider such a thing—”

"It's like living the life of an ascetic all year round."

“In the past, it seems that most of my salary was sent back home.”

"Oh, that's why you don't go out with us much during holidays."

While expressing his feelings, he joined the other club members in tidying up the room.

That's what they say, but in reality, all that's left are some trivial matters that can be dealt with in just a few minutes.

Lavida has already put in a lot of effort to wash the sheets, clean, and deodorize.

Just as everyone was satisfied with the results of their cleanup, the bell, symbolizing visitors, rang outside the ranch's main gate.

--Has it finally arrived?

Ravid, who was still covered by an electric blanket, jogged all the way to the iron gate.

"Welcome to Mejiro Ranch. Huh?"

Follow behind Ravid and try to keep smiling and be friendly.

However, the perfectly poised expression froze the moment the door opened.

Standing outside the door were an Indian woman carrying two bags full of paper bags, and a smaller version of Ravid, whose chest was also piled high with paper bags.

"Hey, what's this—"

He cast curious glances back and forth between the Ravid couple, while taking a portion of the paper bag that was teetering precariously from the boy's hand.

"From today onwards, I will be grateful for everyone's support, so I asked her to buy some things in advance."

Slightly embarrassed, Ravid scratched his head and took the paper bag from his wife.

What was originally planned as a small banquet to welcome the new ranch members turned into a more lavish dinner than a year-end party.

(End of this chapter)