What do you get when you combine wine, beer, and a day of horse racing? Well, maybe not a landslide of big winners, but surely a whole lot of fun. A quick ride on the Nambu Line from Kawasaki brings you conveniently to the racetrack adjacent to Fuchu Hommachi Station. On November 23rd, Yokohama Seasider hosted an event at the Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, bringing a large group of Yokohama folk to the track for “A Day at the Races!” Armed with wine from Tomei’s of Motomachi and craft beer from Kawasaki’s Brimmer Brewing, the stage was set for a good time.
Ari Kudo of JRA assisted many of the first timers in how to place bets. A little bilingual help was all that was needed and once everyone got the hang of it, they were furiously filling out cards and running to place their bets. Our private room on the 7th floor, complete with an outside balcony, offered a spectacular view of the entire course.
When the horses were guided to the starting gates, all rushed outside to see how their choices would fare. As the horses rounded the final bend, dashing down the straightaway toward the finish, a slow roar built up among the crowd, followed by cheers of joy or cries of dismay as the results were finalized. Losses were quickly forgotten with a glass of fine wine and the excitement of getting ready for the next race.
Our merry group really got into the swing of each contest and some even won money. The high point of the day was when many bet on Smart Odin, a horse with a name almost exactly the same as one of the guests. Multiple winners looked super smart as Smart Odin finished in first place at 7:1 odds and a big payout.
For those looking for a change of pace, why not take the trip up to Fuchu? Admission is only ¥200 for adults and children under 15 are free. Youngsters can enjoy meeting ponies up close and personal, so the fun isn’t only for adults. On a nice day you can even get a view of Mt. Fuji. Tokyo Racecourse and some of the biggest races in Japan await you!
For 2015, the season at the Tokyo Racecourse ended in November, but things will start up again in late January. For those looking for races in December, there will be events held at the Nakayama Racecourse in Funabashi City. For more informaiton about the Nakayama course, follow this link: http://japanracing.jp/en/go-racing/jra-racecourses/j02.html
For general information about JRA, use this: http://japanracing.jp/en/index.html