Final yr, eight Japanese horses entered Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita Park. That established a file, however one that’s prone to be far surpassed when Del Mar hosts the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 1-2.
In keeping with a social media put up Oct. 2 from Kate Hunter, a multilingual subject consultant for the Breeders’ Cup, she has 19 Japanese horses booked for the two-day sequence of races at Del Mar in Southern California. She added that she ran out of house in cargo for the scheduled flight, and has different potential starters on a ready listing.
“This exceeded all of our expectations,” stated Dora Delgado, government vice chairman and chief racing officer for Breeders’ Cup.
She added that mixed with horses from different international locations, the Breeders’ Cup might have an total file for overseas participation this yr at Del Mar, situated 20 miles north of San Diego. Irish coach Aidan O’Brien usually sends a squad for horses to the Breeders’ Cup, for instance, this fall led by Metropolis of Troy , who will try to switch his stellar turf type to dust within the Breeder’s Cup Traditional (G1).
With Japanese horses usually competing on the worldwide stage, generally in America, its trio of runners pointed to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional ought to be acquainted to American racing followers. They embody Eternally Younger , winner of the Oct. 2 Japan Dust Traditional at Oi Racecourse in his first begin since an in depth third-place end within the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs; Derma Sotogake , final yr’s Traditional runner-up at Santa Anita; and a number of group 1 winner Ushba Tesoro , fifth within the latter race.
KIECKHEFER: Eternally Younger Aces Japan Prep for Breeders’ Cup Traditional
The anticipated Japanese participation is to return in quite a few Breeders’ Cup races.
“It is actually nice as a result of the way in which they’re form of breaking out—they’re protecting the gamut from dust to turf, infants; they’re in every single place,” Delgado stated of the possible Japanese starters.
I’m so excited to have 19 JPN horses booked on a airplane to the @BreedersCup. I really ran out of house in cargo & have a ready listing! Once I began recruiting runners for the BC I at all times thought we’d get to a degree the place we had good handful yearly. I’ve outdone myself😅 pic.twitter.com/7XYvo8kvAp
— Kate Hunter • ケイト ハンター (@KeibaKate) October 2, 2024
If wanting automated berths and graded stakes factors in oversubscribed races, a panel should nonetheless choose these horses to compete. Pre-entries are due Oct. 21, and chosen starters and alternates are introduced a few days later.
Delgado credited Hunter’s recruiting work in Japan over the previous few years for contributing to the elevated curiosity, in addition to different elements, such because the success of Japanese horses within the 2021 Breeder’s Cup at Del Mar, when March Lorraine and Loves Solely You scored victories. She additionally agreed Eternally Younger’s miss by two noses within the Derby this yr seemingly sparked curiosity.
The connections of Loves Solely You have a good time a victory within the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar
Anticipating the file variety of Japanese contenders and elevated Japanese media presence, Breeders’ Cup has additionally added Mariko Seki to its public relations staff this fall, in line with Claire Crosby, vice chairman of communications for Breeders’ Cup. Seki will function a media liaison and translator for English-speaking media fascinated about interviewing Japanese connections and for Japanese reporters who want help in protecting contenders managed by English-speaking connections. Moreover, Toshihiro Onikubo will be a part of the corporate’s notes staff to supply each day updates on the Japanese contenders.
California venues are additionally in style with Japanese horsemen by decreasing journey. International trainers, based mostly in Japan or elsewhere, can even confidently convey horses effectively suited to agency floor and quick dust, given rare rainfall in autumn in Southern California.
Dora Delgado
There’s additionally a bigger pool of worldwide horses eligible to the Breeders’ Cup after the group opened up eligibility lately by “changing stallions to a global program,” Delgado stated.
“What it did was as an alternative of getting all of their horses should be nominated as weanlings, it simply made all their horses mechanically eligible,” she continued. “So we went from having about 1,500 Europeans nominated every year to over 15,000 eligible, simply mechanically, with out having to do something. So that basically eliminated a giant barrier after they needed to pay excessive supplemental charges to run.”
Japan, which may solely simulcast a choose variety of worldwide races, will provide wagering on 4 Breeders’ Cup races. Japanese gamblers wager at a excessive quantity.
“We’re hoping to get extra sooner or later, however proper now we are able to settle for wagering on the Traditional, Turf, Mile, and Filly and Mare Turf,” Delgado stated. “In order that’s actually a robust incentive (to Breeders’ Cup). It helps steadiness out what our prices are to get them over right here. It’s made up in wagering, hopefully, after they take simulcasts again in Japan.”
The Japanese horses are scheduled to reach in Los Angeles Oct. 22, and after touring south to Del Mar, they could possibly be out of quarantine to start coaching on the monitor Oct. 26, Delgado stated.
