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An industry expert explains, “Anyone in Japan and pick up a sports section, three key disciplines come up. First is baseball, next is sumo, and the other one is the sport of kings. Racing is ever-present, and the horses are magnificent. The challenge and passion are palpable, especially the Arc quest in this long-running endeavor for more than 50 years. I think that’s why Japanese people are emotionally invested.”

A Tradition of Hope

Countless enthusiasts from Japan journeying to Paris and millions more watching from Japan, the season is here annually. Beginning with Speed Symboli, the first Japanese-trained runner in Europe’s premier race, placed 11th back in 1969, another 32 attempted without success. On Sunday, three more – the latest hopefuls – will take their shot.

A prime instance of unwavering effort despite repeated setbacks, there is little to match it across sports. British followers may grumble regarding their own drought, however, the team does at least have a global title. In recent decades, Japan’s racing industry has grown into the leading and most lucrative internationally. All it has to show despite massive investment and extensive travel is a string of painful near-misses.

Heartbreak and Near-Misses

• El Condor Pasa finished half a length behind the winner having led near the finish.
• A national icon, attracting huge crowds, was less than a length behind that year later stripped of placement due to a prohibited substance.
• The 2010 entry was narrowly beaten by the victor.
• The 2012 favorite sprinted ahead with a furlong to go then drifted and was chased down in the closing strides.

Bad ground combined with misfortune, with the draw and in the race, have both played a part to the winless streak. Horses accustomed to lightning-fast going domestically falter on testing tracks that generally prevails this time of year. An expert perspective believes it’s also part of a learning process. “For an owner taking a classic race, the natural conclusion is: ‘We might be able to win an Arc,’ yet that isn’t true because it looks similar, but it’s a totally different game.

“Domestic tracks tend to be uniform and the Japanese horses developed into sprint specialists, abroad, you need an SUV, since the ground seems perfect yet underfoot, it’s totally different. This is why racing teams have studied a lot to select entrants which both run on smooth ground and maybe have an element of SUV.

2024's Trio

It is certainly striking that the three Japanese challengers in the upcoming race underwent a typically localized buildup: an extended midsummer break then a tune-up event. It is not the biggest team that Japan has fielded in an Arc – several in the past placed apart further back – but it has an unusual sense of strength in depth.

Could this be the breakthrough allowing the pilgrims celebrate at last for their indefatigable devotion to their equine heroes.

“In essence, wagering is limited nationally only a handful of officially approved gambling sports, including horse racing,” Kusano says. “But the Japan Racing Association has worked effectively of changing the image beyond wagering as a multifaceted spectacle for general audiences, uniting enthusiasts to racing uniquely internationally.

“For local supporters, when we have star horses entering, naturally, fans journey, to feel part of the drama. Success abroad and the Middle East and most places with similar surfaces, and this is the box that we have wanted to tick over many years.”