OGURI CAP: A JAPANESE CHAMPION WHO STIRRED THE EMOTIONS

By Ray Paulick

Most American racing fans have never heard of Oguri Cap, but the 1990 Japanese Horse of the Year was and is a legend in his native land. His death, at the age of 25, was announced July 3, and is certain to bring tears to the eyes of fans both young and old whose hearts he captured.

 

Oguri Cap came through with the performance of a lifetime on what many say was the greatest day in the history of Japanese racing. The date was Dec. 23, 1990. An all-time record crowd of 177,779 filled every inch of Nakayama racecourse to witness the Arima Kinen, a year-end championship race where the field is selected by racing fans through a popular vote. Watch the amazing video of the Arima Kinen, and in particular the reaction of the fans to this white-faced grandson of American champion Native Dancer as he pulls away to victory under Yutaka Take. The video also includes a retirement ceremony, where his fans gave him one last cheer as he galloped down the stretch.

Click here to view.

When he retired to stud in Hokkaido, so many fans came to see Oguri Cap during the summer months the stud farm installed bleachers near his paddock so they could sit and watch their hero.

Oguri Cap returned to the racetrack on Nov. 8, 2008, and once again the fans turned out in large numbers to watch this now snow-white elder circle the paddock and stir the emotions. Click here to view a video tribute produced by a Japanese television network on that occasion.

An executive with the Japan Racing Association once told me he wept openly the day Oguri Cap won the Arima Kinen, watching the race on a track apron so crowded it was impossible to move. I’m sure when he heard the news about the death of Oguri Cap, he shed a few more tears for a horse that meant so much to so many fans of Thoroughbred racing. 

Copyright © 2010, Blenheim Publishing, LLC

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Tags: Arima Kinen, Japan horse of the year, japan racing, japan racing association, jra, nakayama racecourse, Native Dancer, oguri cap, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 4th, 2010 at 11:10 am and is filed under International Racing, Japan, Racing Greats. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Responses to “OGURI CAP: A JAPANESE CHAMPION WHO STIRRED THE EMOTIONS”

1. Don Reed Says:
   July 4th, 2010 at 8:56 pm

   Great video/story. Thanks, Ray and Brad and to the rest of the staff.

   Sure wish I had seen that kind of enthusiasm at Monmouth yesterday - the Grade 1 UN race had all the passion of a day at the laudermat.

2. Don Reed Says:
   July 4th, 2010 at 8:57 pm

   Make that, “laundermat.” Hope that’s right. I’m all washed up.

3. OGURI Fan Says:
   July 5th, 2010 at 3:28 am

   Here is an extended version of the 1990 Arima Kinen.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFPMwbm7uik

   Here is a 2 part overview of his racing career.

   Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akBYCp0gic

   Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54stAB-IQlE

4. Rachel Anderson Says:
   July 5th, 2010 at 7:10 am

   Strangely enough, even though I don’t speak a word of Japanese I understood everything they were saying.
   Best thing you’ve put up for us, Ray. Thanks.

5. joe c. Says:
   July 5th, 2010 at 1:41 pm

   It is wonderful to see such a reaction to a throughbred in Japan, after the understandably bad press following the Ferdinand tragedy. One lame excuse at the time offered the opinion that horses are not regarded with sentiment in Japan. This story I’m glad to say proves otherwise. I wish Ferdinand had been shown such admiration and respect. I was at Pimlico in 86 when he was second to Snow Chief; visiting Claiborne ten years later I asked for Ferdinand and was told he was in Japan. ‘Wish I could have seen him in the glorious retirement he deserved.