ENGLISH TEXTS while dissecting the race form. For this mostly young crowd, the focus is on the sport and the horses. With their noses buried in newspapers or smartphones, they exchange insights and anecdotes:“ Demuro, Mirco’ s brother- he’ s a good jockey!”, or for an outsider,“ Look at his training times …!”, or again,“ Calandagan is the lightest in the race but he’ s a champion in Europe …” In the museum, visitors immerse themselves in exhibitions on racing history or influential sire lines around the world.“ Aaah, you see, that’ s Northern Dancer’ s family,” exclaims a man in his forties to his friend, sporting a bomber jacket embroidered with the name Deep Impact. Others dress up in the starter’ s jacket, emblematic flag in hand, to give a mock start, perfect photo opportunity for children and adults who are proud to mount a horse inside the reproduction of the starting gates. Respect for the horse is everywhere. Punters calmly line up to leave a message in the condolence book or place a bouquet of flowers at the sanctuary dedicated to the champion Gentildonna, who passed away a few days before the Japan Cup. They bow before the statue of Vodka, where some fans have laid apples and carrots. Respect and culture are learned, and beginners are well served. The JRA offers small classrooms where a“ racing teacher” instructs them, school-style, in the basics of the sport and betting. It may seem surprising to us, but hundreds of students of all ages return to school benches to learn about a sport they may have discovered through TV series, video games and anime like Uma Musume, or the many advertisements across Tokyo. Beginner or expert, everyone watches the horses in the parade ring, where they arrive while the previous race is still underway. Silent observers scrutinize the champions, take notes, then place their bets. The timing is designed so that horses come onto the track nearly 20 minutes before the start, giving bettors time to make their choice before wagering their yen. Inside, it’ s buzzing. Thousands and thousands of screens and terminals on every floor, and yet, almost in silence, punters place their bets. And they bet heavily: € 145 million on the Japan Cup, a 10 % increase from last year. Before the Japan Cup race, the atmosphere is electric. Between respectful silence and waves of applause, goosebumps rise as the fanfare announces the imminent start … After this 2025 edition, Japanese fans have a new hero. More than an hour after the Japan Cup, last race of the day, they were still gathered around the podium or sitting in the stands to celebrate an extraordinary feat and express their respect for Calandagan and his team.
IRE
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WODHOOH’ S DREAM
BY VICKI GIBBINS
You can hear Ted Durcan’ s smile through the phone as he proudly reflects on Wodhooh’ s Ascot Hurdle( Gr. 2) performance.“ I get such a buzz out of her running,” he says.“ I went down to the pre-parade to see her at Ascot, walking around in the rain. You never see her sweating up or misbehaving, she’ s a pleasure to be around.” A dual Classic winner and seven-time UAE Champion Jockey, the Irish-born Durcan retired from race-riding in 2018 and turned his hand to bloodstock, immediately making an impact in the industry with his shrewd purchasing. His experience on the track and time as Sir Michael Stoute’ s assistant trainer proved invaluable during the acquisition of Wodhooh, bought for 50,000 Guineas at the 2023 Tattersalls July Sale for the Sundowners Partnership, headed by Ian Murphy. Owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, the daughter of Le Havre was set for a career on the flat and was sent into training with Sir Michael Stoute.“ I always liked her from a yearling,” Durcan explains.“ She was straightforward, placid and unassuming.“ A big, scopey filly, she was always under the radar and we knew whatever happened, she was going to improve with age and time.“ Sir Michael Stoute had plenty of patience with her and I suspect that’ s one of the reasons she is doing so well now. She was always going to take time, but the reality is – she was never going to reach the heights that owners like that would really want.” Delivering some promising runs as a three-year-old, but without an elusive win, the daughter of Le Havre was sent to the July Sale in 2023.“ A few months before the sale, Ian Murphy rang me to say he was looking for a horse that he and some friends could have fun with. I thought she’ d suit exactly what they were looking for.“ I knew her history, I had been lucky enough to ride her at home so thought she had the scope for hurdles
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