"I'm counting on you today! Give it your all!" The sturdy middle-aged trainer smiled at him and patted the horse's belly.
A trainer was not the horse's owner, but the person in charge of the stable who signed a contract with the owner to care for and train the horse.
Generally speaking, work like handing over a horse could simply be left to one of the stable assistants.
But perhaps because today was a graded race, or because he wanted to see the female jockey who had been heavily discussed these past two days, the man had come in person.
Since trainers basically stayed at the stable year-round without days off, and their workload was heavy enough to begin before dawn, it was not a job just anyone could do. They needed excellent stamina and energy.
Otherwise, even with plenty of subordinates in the stable, they would still be stretched too thin.
Central trainers were basically based at the two major training centers. Here at Oi, most stables were located within the racecourse itself, though a small number were at the Kobayashi training branch in the outskirts of Chiba Prefecture.
The stable buildings here had horse stalls on the lower floor, while the upper floor served as housing for the trainers and their families.
Both Central and local horses would be transported over by horse trucks on race day, led into the temporary paddock, and then raced.
"You're too kind." Ogura Asahi politely nodded to him.
Then, he looked at the horse.
He stroked Bay Romance's head, checked her body and hooves, and only then fitted the saddle and other weighed equipment onto her.
After that, he put on the items that did not count toward the weight, such as the halter, reins, and bit.
Once everything was ready, Ogura