Seeing the vast majority of some 80,000 people at Tokyo Racecourse engaged in wagering on Japan Cup day last month served as a reminder that betting horses is a great game that can appeal to many people.
Watching those bettors, including young adults, with money in one hand and tip sheets or programs in the other attempting to solve the puzzle of the original “daily fantasy” game as they waited their turn at the windows put a bounce in my step. But it also reminded me that North American racing is not fully connecting with potential fans.
That connection has helped fund Japan racing as it has taken spectacular steps forward. Only days before I’d witnessed the magnificent Miho Training Center and the many new barns completed with more on the way—just one of the many first-rate projects made possible from the proceeds from this enthusiastic wagering.
That brings us to this week’s University of Arizona Race Track Program…
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