Japan consists of four large islands and thousands of smaller islands, including Okinawa. Of these, Hokkaido has the second largest area after Honshu and is also the most northerly.
As a result, temperatures in winter (December-March) are quite low, with minimum temperatures sometimes reaching minus 20°C.
Instead, the temperatures remain cool and pleasant outside the winter months*, and the island’s natural climate makes it a popular destination for travellers.
Today we would like to introduce a unique horse racing event from Hokkaido.
(* In recent years, due to global warming, the temperature can be quite high during the summer months.)
The name of its horse racing is called『Banei Horse Racing』.
（Officially, the ‘Banei Race’.）
The term ‘Banei（輓曳）’ refers to horses used for farming. The horses are known as ‘bamba’.
The horses pull heavy objects weighing from several hundred kilograms up to one tonne on steel sledges, competing in terms of power and speed.
There are some similarities with the Canadian ‘Horse Pull’ and the European ‘Horse Sledding Race’, but many aspects are quite different from them.
Does the existence of these events in a relatively cold land reflect the relationship between horses and people for farming in a vast area…?
The method of competition differs considerably from that of ordinary horse racing. The horses are ridden on separate 200 m straight courses, with two trapezoidal peaks as obstacles along the way, but the jockey does not ride directly on the horse.
The final order of finish is the same as in general racing, but an interesting difference is that in general horse racing, the winner is decided by the nose of the horse, whereas in sledging, the last end of the sledge is used as the finishing line. Everything has to cross the finish line, including the sled as well as the horse.
Rather than a sense of speed, the main attractions are the overwhelming dynamism of pulling a huge load, the timing of the crossing of small hills, and the way the horses and riders work together in unison.
Horses living in Hokkaido are well-known for their ‘Dosanko’, or farm horses, but the ‘Bamba’ in this competition is a different breed from the ‘Dosanko’, even though they are also farm horses, and their physique is considerably different.
The Bamba weighs almost twice as much as a common racehorse, the Thoroughbred, but is about the same height, which shows that it is extremely muscular and strong.
They competed by pulling a one-tonne weight on a one-tonne body. This extremely dynamic and gruelling competition was also a stage for the horses to celebrate. Since ancient times, the festival has been held in various regions of Hokkaido as a periodic celebration and fun for farmers.
Over time, smaller events were consolidated and held in a few regions in Hokkaido, such as Asahikawa and Iwamizawa. However, the trend eventually died out, and for a time the festival was even threatened with extinction.
Thanks to the efforts of those involved to preserve it as a part of Hokkaido’s traditional culture, Banei Horse Racing remains here in Obihiro, the only one of its kind in the world, and it retains its former glory and dynamism to this day.
Through the internet and other means, the race now has fans outside Hokkaido, including the younger generation, and is attracting an increasing number of tourists from abroad.
This year, 149 days of racing are scheduled throughout the year, including dozens of night-time races. The excitement and excitement of Banei Horse Racing is expected to continue to grow.
If you have a chance to visit the Obihiro area in Hokkaido, please come and see the horses in action!
『Banei Tokachi』Official Website
Venue: Obihiro Racecourse, 9 Nishi 13 Minami, Obihiro City, Hokkaido
