Slow but suspenseful, the horse races that survive in Japan

Speed ​​is not everything in a horse race held north of Japan. The animals pull heavy sleds, but far from galloping, they trot and even slower, creating an unexpected suspense that hooks viewers.

These races, known as ‘Banei Keiba’, They are celebrated throughout the year in Obihiro, a small city on the large island of Hokkaido, the last place where this modality is maintained, whose origins date back to the end of the 19th century.

On a cold winter afternoon, eight horses kick up dust as they advance on a 200-meter sandy track, weighted by sleds weighing more than 600 kilos.

Suddenly, the beasts, unable to accelerate, pause to catch their breath.

These interruptions “give a little more suspense” to the races, which last just two minutes for the fastest ones, says Esther McCourt, a 24-year-old Australian tourist who marvels at the size of these robust horses, twice as heavy as thoroughbreds.

It doesn’t matter if the output is good or not, “The crucial part is the last 50 meters, so everything can change at any moment”he declared.

In memory of the pioneers of Hokkaido

Standing on the sleighs, the riders They shout and stimulate their horses with their riding crops to encourage them to move forward.

“If thoroughbreds were born to run, ‘banba’ – the name given to horses dedicated to ‘Banei Keiba’ – are made to pull sleds,” said Yoshiyuki Hattori, a trainer whose horses have won several awards.

Before the ‘banba’ worked “in the countryside, for humans and we wanted to perpetuate this story.”

At the end of the 19th century, Japanese settlers in Hokkaido used these very resistant horses for agriculture, transporting goods and mining. The tradition of facing them in tests of strength during the festivities was also created.

These games progressed until giving birth to the equestrian sport of ‘Banei Keiba’, formalized after the Second World War.

A resurgence due to the pandemic

Competitions, in which betting is authorized, were very popular a few decades ago. But the country’s aging demographic and economic stagnation dealt a hard blow, causing its disappearance except in Obihiro.

But ‘Banei Keiba’ experienced an unexpected renaissance after the pandemic covid-19in which the Japanese increased their interest in online betting.

In addition, it was decided to offer other incentives to spectators, such as the installation of an animal farm for children next to the Obihiro racecourse.

“Many people do not know that horses are used for more things than galloping and transporting knights”says Yuno Goto, a 21-year-old nurse who aspires to become a jockey.

The ‘Banei Keiba’ allows the general public to show the ancient culture of sleigh horses and offers “a different experience compared to other horse races.”

Taichi Yamada, a 27-year-old spectator, hopes that the sport lasts so that the tradition is not lost.

“It must be hard for the horses to pull these loads, so we can’t help but shout to encourage them.”says.