So a full six days before the June 6 running of the Japan Derby, Kawamura and his wife, Maki, claimed a desirable little patch of concrete in front of the Tokyo Racecourse. The young couple spread newspapers on the ground, opened folding chairs and coolers, turned on a portable radio and became first in line for admission to the Sunday race. By the eve of the race, hundreds of other young racing fans had lined up behind the Kawamuras, eager to get a good view of one of Japan's biggest sporting events. Club helps average Japanese fan become part owner of a racehorse Japanese thoroughbred breeders such as Yuki Hayata have been pioneers in getting fans involved in the sport as owners. Hayata, a veterinarian who co-owns Hayata Farm with her husband, Koichiro, also a veterinarian, formed the Silk Horse Club four years ago to allow ordinary Japanese to own shares in racehorses.
Most fans arrive at the track by crowded subway.
Any hat would be crushed or lost along the way. Racegoers are more likely to drink chilled green tea than Kentucky's famous sugary Bourbon concoction. Nearly a million Japanese fans regularly bet on thoroughbred races from their homes, cars and corner stores. Bets are automatically debited from bank accounts and winnings are automatically credited. The game is played at home, at race tracks and in karaoke bars, usually using a Nintendo system or Sony PlayStation.