Japanese market looking hard to crack

Innovative incentives for owners will be needed if Britain or Ireland is to break into the Japanese horseracing gambling market, the world’s biggest pool-betting operation, through simulcasting major races.

That is the view of one of the Japan Racing Association's top officials, Hiroshi Ito, head of the international planning division.

The national government gave permission for the JRA to promote local pools on overseas races for the first time in 2016, beginning with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, provided at least one runner had a Japanese owner.