Saga Keiba, the only local horse racing track left in Kyushu, recorded its first year-on-year sales increase in five years in fiscal 2012. The Tosu-based track saw sales rise after joining the Japan Racing Association’s I-PAT online betting system last November. The future looks bright for Saga Keiba which had been struggling after posting losses totaling ¥210 million at the end of FY2011. Saga Keiba sold ¥720 million in tickets during the 29 race days after joining I-PAT, exceeding expected sales by a factor of 3.5. Bets will be accepted via I-PAT for 81 of the 101 scheduled races in fiscal 2013, and the prefectural horse racing association will run ads in 13 sports newspapers—10 more than last year—in an effort to attract the attention of racing fans around the country. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 9, Official HP: http://www.sagakeiba.net/
