Local News

The local government-owned racetracks in Tosu, Saga Prefecture and Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture, have agreed to have so-called “exchange races” five times a month, in which the jockeys and horses at each track will race at the other track. The object is to reduce the operating costs accounted for by jockey salaries and the horses’ upkeep by sharing them. For many years, racetracks were an important revenue source for local governments, but their profitability has declined with the diversification of leisure time activities, and some have gone out of business. The National Association of Racing says this is the first arrangement of its type in the country.