When I left Weighing Room and walked through the area in front of the railing to the commendation ceremony venue, the horsemen around me spontaneously applauded.
After walking out of the railing under the guidance of the staff, Kitano looked up at the stands.
Most of them are young and unfamiliar faces.
He bowed to the stands.
The applause that had begun to subside became enthusiastic again.
The sounds of "congratulations" kept coming from my ears.
Kitano had to stop again and again and bow in response to this enthusiasm.
When we arrived at the venue where the oral ceremony was held, quite a few people were already waiting there.
Mejiro Sakuya stood in the center a little awkwardly, the braid on his neck swaying slightly as his head moved.
Further down, is the shining victory flag.
"This way, Mr. Kitano."
Tanaka waved his hand and pointed to the frontmost position.
India's stable attendant Lakshmi smiled at him and handed him the rope in a friendly manner.
Taking the rope from his mouth, Kitano faced the camera and smiled.
At the same time, Hattori on horseback raised his right hand high.
After the shutter click, Kitano thanked those involved one by one.
Then came the commendation ceremony for Matoba.
Following the guidance of the staff, Kitano stood on the commendation stand with some confusion.
On both sides are Jockey Hattori, Trainer Tanaka Kazuo and Ogawa Joe represented by Nishiken Farm.
Kitano stood in the middle like a student who made a mistake, with embarrassment written all over his face.
The speaker seemed to have said something, but when it came to his ears, only fragments of staccato sounds were left.
At this time, several stadium staff presented bouquets of flowers.
"Oh... thank you!"
After a delay of half a beat, Kitano hurriedly took the bouquet.
"Congratulations, owner of Kitano horse."
The staff smiled.
Just when he was about to step off the commendation platform, he found that no one on either side moved.
The steps on his legs stopped abruptly.
"Congratulations, owner of Kitano horse."
Another staff member delivered a small, thin box.
"Thank you."
Kitano and the staff member bowed at the same time, and their heads almost hit each other.
Then, the commendation ceremony seemed to have no end.
Ming Meizen was not like this during several games.
I'm afraid this is the so-called trouble of happiness.
Holding the bouquet with her elbow, Kitano wanted to open the small box with some curiosity.
At this time, the staff member who came around to the back at some point said, "If you don't mind, please leave it to me for safekeeping first, Kitano horse owner."
He had no choice but to hand the bouquet and the small box to the outstretched hands of the staff.
Next, it was a certain management of the Hokkaido Racing Association.
Although I met with Matoba several times when registering as a horse owner, Kitano had already forgotten his name.
Something is a little bit bad.
"Congratulations, Kitano horse owner."
The other party smiled and took the medal handed by the staff and put it on Kitano, and then handed over a rather small trophy.
"Thank you."
Kitano returned the gift with some guilt.
Fortunately, the other party had no intention of continuing the exchange. He nodded politely and then turned around to award medals to several other people.
"What a risk."
I just breathed a sigh of relief and then, under the instructions of the photographer, I hurriedly raised the trophy in my hand.
Continuous shutter sounds rang in my ears.
After confirming with his peripheral vision that he could exit, Kitano stepped forward with confidence.
"Kitano Horse Owner!"
Behind me, the staff shouted.
Then he raised the bouquet and small box in his hands.
"Sorry!"
He apologized to the staff member awkwardly.
"It's nothing. After seeing the race schedule, we are actually looking forward to this day."
After the handover was completed, the staff said with a smile.
Holding something in his hands, Kitano constantly accepts photo invitations from people he knows or doesn't know.
In addition, he also left his signature on each 100-yen horse racing ticket.
The muscles on the face and hands seemed to have become a little stiff.
"It's finally over."
After squeezing out of the crowd, I breathed a sigh of relief.
As if something suddenly occurred to him, his steps toward the exit of the arena suddenly changed direction.
Relying on his identity as the horse owner, he returned to the parade ground smoothly.
"Mr. Kitano?"
The stable attendant Kobayashi, who was packing the saddle, raised his head in surprise, and Ochiai, who was already on his bicycle, also looked back.
"Sorry, Mr. Kitano."
After putting down the bicycle, Ochiai ran over and lowered his head in guilt.
"Pegasus has tried his best, but something went wrong on my side."
"Nothing."
The bouquet and trophy on hand are a little inconvenient.
So, Kitano simply put them on the ground aside.
Then, he reached out and patted Ochiai on the shoulder. "This tactic was formulated before the game, and I overdid it at the time... So, don't take it too seriously."
"Moreover, whether it is Teacher Tanaka or Ochiai Jockey and Kobayashi stable attendants, they have all tried their best to do their best."
He suddenly bent down and bowed deeply towards the two people in front of him.
"I can't thank you enough for your efforts."
At this time, Mejiro Tenma, who had been sitting aside for some time, let out several dissatisfied snorts.
"Of course, I won't miss you."
After straightening up, he smiled and rubbed Lu Maoma's still hot nose.
The originally heavy atmosphere suddenly eased.
"Okay, I won't bother you anymore."
Kitano Pick up the bouquet and trophy on the ground.
"If possible, please make sure you two are present at the celebration party tomorrow."
He raised his head and said.
"Hey, should I go too?"
Kobayashi The stable attendant pointed to himself in surprise.
Ochiai fell into silence.
"Please don't refuse."
Kitano continued.
In the end, the two finally agreed.
Walking slowly on the road leading to the parking lot, Kitano hummed a tune that he had heard on the way.
Because there was a delay after the commendation ceremony, there were very few pedestrians on the road.
After the last game, even the most enthusiastic horsemen had time to leave.
"The people who returned to Northern Farm were silent... only the sound of the waves echoed in their ears..."
As he walked, Kitano continued to hum the tuneless Enka.
"Tsugaru Strait or something, that's too cliché, isn't it?"
Suddenly a girl's voice came to my ears.
"How old is Sis Ishikawa, but he was still participating in Kohaku Uta Gassen until Reiwa."
Kitano subconsciously retorted.
At the edge of the parking lot, Ogawa Kanna was leaning on the railing with both hands and looking over with a smile.
"Just the title "Sis Ishikawa" is old enough!"
The girl covered her mouth and smiled evilly.
""Sis Ishikawa" is just an honorific."
Kitano gave a feeble defense.
"It turns out that Brother Kitano likes the upper-year series."
Ogawa Masaru nodded his head with an expression of understanding.
From behind, Ogawa Joe sighed helplessly.