After speaking at the first International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses earlier this year in Washington, D.C., I was contacted by Godolphin about teaching a clinic in Japan. My Japan trip started well today with a visit to the Hanshin Races. The race course was fabulous and there were 12 races today, though it took me a few goes to understand how to place a bet. My clinic hosts from Darley/Godolphin showed me the stables and took to the mounting yard with the owners. It was unbelievable, being so close to the action.
At lunchtime I had a meeting with the JRA (Japan Racing Association) Director of Equestrian Affairs, Kazuto Kimura. We discussed ideas for second careers for the Japanese thoroughbreds after they finish racing. He was very eager to learn about American thoroughbreds competing in second careers at the top level of horse sports in America; it is his dream for a Japanese ex-racehorse to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
The goal is for this trip to promote awareness and encourage Japanese riders and trainers to consider an ex-racehorse for their next riding horse. Tomorrow the clinic starts. It looks like we have three full days of teaching and the clinic is full of retired race horses that are starting over in their new lives as riding horses.
-Boyd
So Cool
What an experience
Hope you won on a few bets