Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 376 The Sound of Hooves Marching Towards Early Autumn

September marks the gradual transition into autumn.

The brief, sweltering summer in Hokkaido is gradually coming to an end.

After returning to Hokkaido from the United States, I threw myself into my busy work as usual.

Walking around the newly built grazing area fence, I had a feeling that "it's already autumn."

Even when working under the sun, you won't be drenched in sweat as easily as you would in August.

As soon as they returned to the lounge, Zep, who had been lying on the low table, started to talk to them.

"As expected, it's the Breeders' Cup—"

"Right now, I might not go."

According to the reply from Yoshida, rider Moya is quite interested in the Breeders' Cup commission.

The crucial part is what follows.

Taking advantage of the WASJ event, which will be held in Sapporo this weekend as usual, the camp will engage in further contact with the Moya riders.

"No matter what, let's go all out!"

"Letting Eri run the Breeders' Cup seems like a decision made on a whim, no matter how you look at it."

Zep's shouting and Rachel Ho's calm rant came from the low table.

I took a breath and plopped down, my hand slipping slightly when it touched the tatami.

It usually feels rough to the touch, but suddenly becomes smooth when you follow the grain.

"If we can win, the Breeders' Cup is much better than the Asahi Cup!"

As he said this, Kikuchi took out a cup of cold barley tea from the refrigerator next to him, poured it, and then pushed it over with the tray.

"Thank you. It's indeed not easy for a two-year-old horse to go on an expedition."

Although Baozuo seemed capable of handling transportation, after discussion, the faction decided to choose the highest-level transportation method.

Of course, this made the already heavy burden of the expedition even heavier.

To this end, the company, in the name of its shareholders, provided the ranch with an interest-free loan to be repaid in multiple installments.

I drank about half a cup in one go, and the coolness spread from my fingertips and throat into my body, causing me to shiver involuntarily.

It's time to stop adding ice to barley tea.

"By the way, how's things going with Arian?"

As he said this, he turned his head to look at Ravid on the other side of the low table.

Not long ago, Ravid finally took out his phone amidst the curious stares of his fellow members.

The boy named Arian on the screen is practically a smaller version of Ravid himself; his appearance belies his advanced age of only fifteen or sixteen.

The lounge was noisy and bustling, like a vegetable market.

"Ah, that's exactly what I was about to tell you."

Ravid put down his phone and pursed his lips slightly.

“Arian and my wife are ready to come to Japan.”

The Indian nodded, looking somewhat embarrassed.

It's not a family stay visa, but another method that's more common in Hokkaido.

—Student visa applied for through a language school.

Although nominally for studying abroad, quite a few foreigners have stayed in Japan in recent years using this type of visa.

Although the temple has always turned a blind eye to this.

"but--"

With that, he placed the teacup back on the tray with a "thud".

Thanks to the regular promotion by members of our own ranch, we are fairly familiar with JBBA's trainee policy.

The training program for production-oriented technical personnel has an entry requirement of only secondary school level, and with the JRA subsidy, the tuition fee is less than 150,000 yen. Leaving aside private universities in the medical and dental fields, the ranch can still afford the JBBA training program.

"Eh!"

Upon hearing this suggestion, Ravid paused slightly, seemingly somewhat surprised.

Although I felt that this kind of thing didn't need to be described in such a touching way, I still received some exaggerated thanks from the ranch manager.

Of course, the enrollment period for JBBA trainees is in August each year, so there's no way you can make it in time for this year's application.

The pre-meal time was whiled away chatting in the lounge, ushering in the afternoon of the year's horse herding season.

The ranch is located on the north side, beyond which lies an endless expanse of flat land.

On the newly reclaimed grazing land, two energetic figures are running one after the other.

Running ahead was the slightly smaller Yuehuang. Although his steps were still a bit immature, the young black horse gritted his teeth and left the deer-haired horse behind him by a considerable distance.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the fence, the ponies with blue deer fur suddenly slowed down, nimbly turned around, and then immediately took off again with all their might.

Meguro arrived a little later, flicked his ears, and rushed out as well.

This action was repeated several times in front of me.

But gradually, things changed.

The young dark horse's breathing was no longer so relaxed, and his turning movements began to become slow.

The deer-haired horse, which had been following at a leisurely pace, seized the opportunity and accelerated past in one go.

The result was a foregone conclusion; it was a victory for Mejiro Tabi.

The deer-haired horse stopped in front of the fence, raised its head slightly, and let out a neigh that sounded somewhat smug.

The young black horse's ears drooped down, his face full of defiance.

Finally, he lowered his head slightly and gently rubbed his slightly damp nose against Meguro Traveler's neck.

"Alright, stop bullying the younger ones."

After entering the grazing area, he started talking while fastening the reins to the deer and horse.

—Even though it could have gained the upper hand from the start with the speed of the older horse, it insisted on dragging things out until Yuehuang was exhausted before showing its true strength.

Blinking his black, beady eyes, Megumi-sensei immediately adopted a camel-like, innocent expression.

However, at least for everyone on the ranch, this tactic is no longer effective.

He patted the young black horse, which was still panting heavily with its tongue lolling out, and led it by the leash to the edge of the grazing area.

"It feels like a scene of a mother and child herding livestock together~"

Rachel Ho said with a smile, bringing the prepared water to the two horses.

"Isn't that the kind of mother who's cunning and manipulative?"

Kikuchi, who was collecting GPS data nearby, promptly chimed in with his own commentary.

"That's cute too."

After saying that, he picked up a towel and wiped the sweat and grass clippings off the deer-mane horse.

Seemingly enjoying the massage, Meguro Rider slightly narrowed his eyes, and even slowed down his drinking.

The next moment, a tug came from the cuff.

Releasing the sleeve he was biting, the young black horse let out a whimpering sound as if saying, "I want some too."

"Hehehe, shall I help you, Moon Emperor?"

While letting out a strange, uncle-like laugh, Zep hurriedly picked up the towel that had been wrapped around his neck.

With his eyes slightly rolled outwards, the young man, dressed in black, looked disgusted and took a few steps back.

Why?

(End of this chapter)