RACING IN JAPAN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 163, 26 June 1935, Page 2

RACING IN JAPAN

Encouraged by Government The sport of horse-racing was introduced to Japan about .30 years ago, and it is rapidly becoming one of the most popular Japanese pastimes. It is receiving great encouragement from the Japanese Government, which recognises the value of the thoroughbred horse for army purposes. Of recent years many stallions of good class have been imported from England for use a® sires in Japan, and a number of Australian horses has found its way there. One of the earliest importations from Australia to Japan was Diplomat, a son of St. Simon, who was imported to New South Wales by the late Mr. John Brown in 1903, but was sold to go to Japan the following year. Other purchases of horses and mares have been made from time to time in Australia'in the intervening years. Among the sires sent to Japan from England during the last few years were Shian Mor, Athford, a brother to the Derby winner Trigo; Polygnotus, Priory Park, and Review Order, who were all good-class winners. Shian Mor finished third to Call' Boy and Hot Night in the Derby a few years ago, and he appears to be doing well as a sire in Japan. Last year three of his sons filled the places in the Nippon Derby, and this year Governor, another son of Shian Mor, was the Derby winner. THE NIPPON DERBY. “Chiron” writes in The Australasian as follows: —“I am indebted to the secretary of the Tokio Race Club for some interesting information relating to the fourth Nippon Derby, which was run by his club on its splendidly appointed course on April 29, the Emperor’s birthday. The conditions of the race aro very similar to those which govern the English Derby, and it is run over u mile and a-half. The entries totalled 252. There were, however, only 11, starters. Those most favoured in the totalisator, which is the betting medium, were Cleopatra Tomas, Governor, Akaishidake, and Happy Utopia, in that order. Cleopatra Tomas tried to lead nil the w'ay, but he failed to stay : the course and missed a place, the race i being easily won by Governor from Akaishidake and Hokatsu Mine d’Or. The owner of tho winner received 20,230 yen and a gold enp, the owner of the second 7G2.5 yen, and the ormer

of the third 457.5 yen. As the par value of the yen is about 2/-, it will be seen that the stake was quite a good one. Governor was bred at the Koiwai stud, and is owned by his breeder, Baron Awasaki, and is by Shian Mor (son of Buchan) from Astral, by Diamond Wedding (son of Diamond Jubilee) from Beautiful Dreamer, by Enthusiast. Astral was bred in Japan, but the pedigree is wholly England. Akaishidake was also bred at Koawai stud, and is also a son of Shian Mor. All the starters were sired by Englishbred horses.”