Misa Edito:
A beautiful Sunday… the perfect day to bet on the ponies. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the track…but I certainly don’t recall this kind of horse racing in the States. The facility is immense. The horses that are to race next are shown on a track just outside the race course/hippodrone, so people like me can place bets based on a horse’s gait… or the length of its legs ;) This was the last big racing day of the season… Part of the
Asian Mile Challenge 2005 (アジアマイルチャレンジ2005), this was the
Yasuda Kinen (安田記念), so it seemed as though all of Tōkyō were there- in the bleachers…in the standing room…picnicking off to the side…playing on the playground…or in the VIP inner circle. This is not your grandad’s day at the track; it is for everyone- singles, couples, families, the old and the young. And bets are not made to a bored man sitting behind a little window. No, this is Japan- bets are automated! Insert your money, the card you’ve filled out (for this track or any other in Japan) and out comes your receipt/ticket. Should you win, another machine will exchange your ticket for the calculated winnings- very cool! Though a losing day for me… Germain told me all about it :)
