🔗 Share this article Contenders of the Arc: Japanese Long-Awaited Five-Decade Pursuit in Paris. An industry expert explains, “If you’re living in Japan and read a sports section, the top three activities are featured. First is baseball, sumo wrestling is another, and the other one is horse racing. The sport is ubiquitous, and thoroughbreds are beautiful animals. It’s full of excitement and allure, with the Arc as the ultimate goal as Japan has pursued victory for half a century. This is the reason fans in Japan are emotionally invested.” Annual Pilgrimage Countless enthusiasts from Japan making the 12,000-mile round trip and millions more following live broadcasts, the moment has arrived as usual. Since Speed Symboli, the first Japanese-trained runner at the Arc, finished 11th over five decades ago, three dozen others sought victory in vain. This year, another trio – the latest hopefuls – will take their shot. One standout case of unwavering effort in the face of heartbreaking losses, there is little to match it globally. British followers may grumble over decades of disappointment, yet their squad can claim a major trophy. Over the last 30 years, Japanese horse racing has developed as the richest and most successful in the world. But the return despite massive investment and countless journeys is a series of increasingly agonising disappointments. Heartbreak and Near-Misses El Condor Pasa came up just short against the champion having led until the last moment. The legendary Deep Impact, attracting huge crowds, was less than a length behind in 2006 before being disqualified over a drug violation. An unexpected challenger lost by a mere head the winning horse. Orfevre sprinted ahead in the final stretch yet veered and was chased down by Solemia. Heavy going along with ill fortune, with the draw and in the race, have both played a part in Japan’s 0-for-33 record. Runners used to quick surfaces at home often struggle on testing tracks that generally prevails during the Arc. An expert perspective thinks it has also been part of a learning process. “For an owner victorious in the Derby, often the thought is: ‘We can conquer Europe,’ however, reality differs because it looks similar, the challenges are unique. “The Japanese turf are very level and local thoroughbreds are trained to become precision machines, but in Europe, more versatile athletes, since the ground seems perfect yet underfoot, it’s totally different. This is why the Japanese connections have studied a lot to select entrants able to handle variety and maybe have an element of SUV. This Year's Hopefuls Notably this year’s trio set to compete have all had a typically European training regimen: time off in summer then a tune-up event. It is not the biggest team ever sent for this race – four runners in 2022 placed apart in the lower positions – but it has an unusual sense of strength in depth. So perhaps this will finally be the year allowing the pilgrims are rewarded for their indefatigable devotion for these athletes. “In essence, gambling is prohibited in Japan with just four authorized betting sports, among them thoroughbred racing,” Kusano says. “But the Japan Racing Association has done a very good job in rebranding the sport beyond wagering into a broader entertainment for general audiences, and bonding people with the sport distinctly internationally. “For local supporters, when we have star horses entering, naturally, fans journey, to share in the challenge. We’ve won in Hong Kong and Dubai across various venues with similar surfaces, the Arc remains the elusive prize for a long time.”