Originally created as the “Draft Horse Festival” to test the value and strength of the draft horses used for logging and farming operations in Hokkaido around 1900, the event is now turned into a regular and unique race throughout the year. Since April 2007, Obihiro in Hokkaido Japan became the only place in the world that holds this type of races.
Ban’ei Horse Racing is not only an entertainment for the adults, the premises aim at creating “Fun for all”. Hence there is a Horse Museum, a Farm Fresh Market, some restaurants and a zoo where children can see and touch the horses.
Races are held on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. If you visit Obihiro over the weekend, this is a fun place to check out.
There is a horse statue at the main entrance and the parking lot. 正門和停車場入口有一座馬的雕塑，不會走錯。The Horse Museum provides history and information about farm horses and displays some agriculture tools. It’s free. 馬的博物館是免費的，館內陳列日本有關馬的歷史、資料和各種農耕用具。This Tokachimura Farm fresh market sells all kinds of fresh vegetables and food in Tokachi. 「產直市場」出售各種十勝出產的農產品及食物。There are quite a few choices of restaurants and cafes in the premises. 有幾間餐廳和咖啡廳。The Ban’ei Horse Shrine! Make a wish before you go betting. Nice! 進入賽馬場前有一座輓馬神社，可以先祈福求好運！The entrance fee is ¥100 per person. 入場費每位¥100。The grandstand of Obihiro Race Track. 帶廣賽馬場的大看台。There are TV screens everywhere, you may simply sit on the sofa and watch the race as well as seeing all the betting information. 大看台內有許多地方都設置了電視屏幕，可以舒舒服服坐在沙發看比賽和賽馬資料。You may also watch the race through the window. 你也可以看透過玻璃窗看現場比賽。The betting machines. 投注機。Before each race, the horses would be walking around this area. You may take a close up look at the horses. 每場賽事前，馬匹都會在這裏度步，有興趣可以走近看馬的身型和狀態。The close up of horses. 走近看馬。Then the horses would walk to the starting point. 然後就會行到起步點。All horses and sleds are set up at the starting point. There are 9 horses in each race. 鐵撬是在起點才裝上。每場賽事有9匹馬。Each horse has to pull a 1-ton sled over 2 hills on the straight 200 meters race track. 每匹馬要拖著1噸重的鐵撬在一條200米的直賽道競賽，難度是要上兩座斜坡。 Going downhill. 下斜坡。Because of the heavy sled, even the race on the flat part is tough. This is also the first race I can take photos at the starting point, then run to the second hill to wait for the second shoot of the horse coming. 由於鐵撬很重，馬匹所以走在平坦路段都很吃力。這項賽事也是第一次我可以在起步拍完照，還可以走到第二個斜坡等馬匹跑下來。The second hill is a little higher than the first one. More challenging. 第二個斜坡比第一個高，更有難度。The result board shows the top 5 horses of each race. 標版展示完成該場賽事的頭5名馬匹號碼。Transportation to Obihiro Race Track: there are buses that go to the Race Track from Obihiro JR Station every half hour or so. The alternative is to drive, take a taxi or walk for 20-30 minutes from the JR Station. 往返帶廣賽馬場的交通：在帶廣 JR 站巴士總站有巴士直達，約半小時一班。當然可以自駕、坐的士或徒步20-30分鐘左右。
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