Chapter 226: I'm Not Some Savior
Sunday morning.
Tokyo Racecourse.
Weighing in, warming up, putting on the Horse Owner's racing silks.
Today's two maiden races were scheduled back to back, though one was over 1,600 meters and the other over 1,800 meters.
Each race had a field of around a dozen horses.
More than a dozen horses competing for a single spot.
Only the winner qualified to advance to races in other divisions. The horses that lost had to keep struggling in the Maiden Division.
"Good luck, Sasaki."
"Don't worry."
Koichi nodded, then went over to sit in the waiting room.
Compared with the races he had entered before, there weren't many people here this time.
There weren't any major races at the racecourse this weekend. The last few races were only Two-Win Division events for two- or three-year-olds.
He barely knew most of the jockeys here this time. His usual crowd was busy riding in major races, after all.
They only took on jobs like these on days when there was a major race, or when a Horse Owner or trainer specifically asked them to ride at a particular venue.
The wait was pretty boring.
There were twelve races a day, with roughly half an hour between each one.
A little over ten minutes later, Koichi rode the black bay horse he had ridden yesterday onto the track.
He was already thoroughly familiar with the race procedures.
The race began!
Compared with all the procedures at major events, the maiden race got underway smoothly. There weren't even many spectators in the stands.
Everyone had been focusing on the Grade 1 races for two-year-olds lately.
Of course, the biggest attraction was still the Arima Kinen. Voting had already closed, and this year's lineup was truly impressive.
"A good start!