This book was first published across the web by .
Bets and Racehorse racing both came with defeat. Even owners with the highest win rates had days like this.
Today, for instance.
Yet compared to being merely an owner, for an owner-breeder, defeat was less a result than an unavoidable part of the process of doing this job.
Even in a lost race, there was still much to gain from every angle—
Thinking that, I followed behind Mr. Yonemoto, the representative of the victorious Silk Club, toward the weighing room.
"That was so close."
Trainer Ikee came over from the other side of the corridor as he spoke.
Though he smiled and exchanged pleasantries with several stablehands and exercise riders who approached him, the Trainer's expression was full of regret.
"If there'd been a little more time, that girl probably could have performed even better."
On the owner's side, emotions like regret and frustration had already faded away during the elevator ride from the owners' stand and the walk through the underground passage to get here.
"Welcome back. I'm really glad you finished safely."
Saying that, I opened my arms to the rider and horse approaching me.
I first gave Jockey Devon Coe, who was bent low over the horse's back, a welcoming hug. Then it was Poetic Banquet's turn, as she stamped her hooves and looked over as if to say, "What about me? What about me?"
I had thought that even if she was uninjured, Poetic Banquet would probably be left with some degree of trauma from that race. Instead, she looked no different from usual.
"Thanks for the effort. Now get some proper rest for a while."
I stroked Poetic Banquet's head, soaked through by the rain. Seeing her adorable face, relaxed now as she stuck out