Japan, Hong Kong to Offer Breeders' Cup Race Simulcasts

With seven Japan-based runners expected to compete in this year's Breeders' Cup races and new medication policies in place spurring goodwill with international outlets, a number of this year's World Championships races will be offered for wagering in the lucrative markets of Japan and Hong Kong.

Breeders' Cup president and CEO Drew Fleming said Japan plans to offer wagering on three Breeders' Cup Saturday races: the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T), and the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). This will be the first time Japan bettors have been able to wager on a Breeders' Cup race since 2016 at Santa Anita Park when they were able to wager on the Filly & Mare Turf.

The Japan Racing Association allows simulcast wagering on a limited number of international races each year and interest in these events is typically high. Horseplayers in Japan wagered about $7 million on the 2016 Filly & Mare Turf where Japan-based Nuovo Record  finished off the board. That wagering support arrived even though the race was conducted in the early morning hours in Japan.

This year will provide a chance for breakfast at the races as Japan time for the three races offered will be at 5:59 a.m. (Filly & Mare Turf), 7:20 a.m. (Mile), and 8:40 a.m. (Turf). Japan will have a major contender in the Filly & Mare Turf in Loves Only You , who earlier this year captured the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) in Hong Kong. (Loves Only You is also is entered in the Turf, second preference, which a JRA official said factored into the decision to simulcast both races.)

"The wagering is important but even more, they've been great partners with us as far as growing Thoroughbred racing as a whole," said Fleming, noting the friendship he's developed with JRA president and CEO Masayuki Goto. "It's been a privilege to work with them and continue to grow the game internationally."

This will be the first Breeders' Cup in which race-day Lasix will be prohibited in all of the races, which is in line with other international standards. Fleming believes the updated medication rules of Breeders' Cup as well as overall moves by the U.S. industry toward international medication standards through efforts like the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition have encouraged participation from international horsemen and aided in opening international wagering opportunities.

"The Hong Kong Jockey Club is also going to be taking wagering on the Breeders' Cup," Fleming said. "It reflects the Hong Kong Jockey Club's support for not only the passage of HISA, but the positive reforms that are being implemented in U.S. racing, which includes running medication-free on race day."

In an email exchange with BloodHorse, Goto also applauded the Breeders' Cup changes. 

"Stringent anti-doping policy is the core principal of horse racing," Goto said. "Therefore, I welcome the move and highly praise what the Breeders' Cup organizers have achieved."

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which also offers a limited number of international simulcasts, will offer wagering on the Turf and the Mile.

There will be 27 countries that accept wagering on Breeders' Cup races this year. Nineteen countries will offer pari-mutuel, commingled-pool wagering on the World Championships, including Canada, France, Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Eight other jurisdictions will offer separate pool wagering, including Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Mexico. 

"As a global property with horses competing from all corners of the world, we are pleased to be able to offer commingled pari-mutuel wagering for bettors across 19 countries," Fleming said. "This provides strong liquidity for our pools and maximizes value for our worldwide customers. We are also appreciative and honored to have Hong Kong and Japan included in wagering this year, which demonstrates the opportunities available to every jurisdiction when we work together to globalize our sport."