November 23, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights reserved

BIG IN JAPAN Ð BY INVITATION ONLY
By Midge Todhunter

LONDON, November 23, Graphic News:  FROM THE outset, the Japan Cup has been a truly international affair. In 18 runnings there have been 12 foreign winners from seven different countries and four continents.

Since the raceÕs inauguration in 1981, the Japan Racing Association has attracted the best horses from around the world to the big event Ð which also draws some mammoth crowds, with a record of over 187,000 in 1995.

Almost invariably contested on good to fast ground the Japan Cup covers a mile and a half, or just over a circuit, of the virtually flat, left-handed turf oval, of the Tokyo racetrack.

Entry is restricted to invited horses. Candidates for the Japan Cup, the penultimate leg in the first annual running of the World Series, are assessed on their relative merits by the AssociationÕs senior handicapper. Unlike in America, no horses are allowed to compete under drugs.

International horses must undergo an inspection before leaving their home country, to be carried out by a veterinary officer designate. On entry into Japan, horses must be housed for the first 15 days in a specially-built quarantine stable, with accompanying, 1,400-metre dirt training track. All principal horse feed is supplied by the host racetrack, and there are strict controls on feed-related imports.

Even with Daylami, the unassailable leader of the World Championships, now packed off to stud in Ireland, the race is still shaping up to be one of the best amd most competitive of the Series.

Epsom Derby winner High-Rise is a definite runner, along with Fruits of Love and Alborada Ð two other top flight British contenders. From France comes the mighty Montjeu, winner of the French and Irish Derbies before storming to a sensational victory in last monthÕs Prix de lÕArc de Triomphe.

With mega-crowds turning up at Tokyo Racecourse for what is essentially a betting bonanza, with profits recycled into the nationÕs charity work and economy, the Japan Racing Association is keen to rule out any skullduggery.

So they lock the jockeys up, 24 hours before the race.

All jockeys riding must present themselves at the track an hour before race declaration time Ð that is, the day before Ð so that the Japan Racing Authorities can shut the door on them, a precautionary security step after what is described as Ôsome corruptions a few years backÕ.

They, the jockeys, have separate rooms, communal lounge and sports facilities etc, but they are allowed no visitors, no phone calls and no contact with the outside world.
/ENDS