The integration of horse racing into popular culture through the deeds of equine champions, including Australia’s Winx and Japan’s Equinox, was explored at the 40th Asian Racing Conference on Wednesday, 28 August, at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo.
Titled ‘Pop Culture: Bringing Racing’s Stories To The Fore’, the session discussed horse racing’s influence on popular culture and the value of using mediums such as film and docuseries to promote the sport.
Horse racing has a long history of sporting excellence, both equine and human and Ms. Janine Hosking, Director and Producer of ‘A Horse Named Winx’, discussed the soon to be released film and her experience in telling the story of one of the sport’s greatest champions, Winx, a 37-time winner from 43 starts, including 33 times in succession between 2015 and 2019.
“At the heart of it, and it’s a big message in the film, is that many of the big decisions made about this champion horse were based on what’s best for Winx.”
“As soon as Chris Waller allowed us into the stable to meet part of the team, because it wasn’t just Chris that made Winx a champion, there’s a team of people around him, then I was able to understand the love of the horse and keep going back to the great horses,” Ms. Hosking said.
Mr. Toshihiko Nishiyama, General Manager, Business Consulting Division, Mitsubishi Research Institute, spoke of Japan’s connection to horse racing through alternate avenues, such as, interactive games, cartoons and merchandise, including plushies.
Mr. Nishiyama pinpointed three key values which contribute to the positive promotion of horse racing in Japan, the first being an increase of general awareness of concepts such as breeding, racing and grade. Secondly, to spread knowledge and anecdotes about horses and people related to horse racing, while the third highlighted creating new ways for fans to show support.
“Racing pop culture in Japan has spread among not only horse racing lovers but other people who are fond of pop culture, such as manga, anime and games,” Mr. Nishiyama said.
Mr. Nathan Horrocks, Co-Founder, JockeyCam and Equine Productions, discussed the importance of storytelling, his recent work on the docuseries ‘Horsepower’, and his initiative of bringing racing’s unique stories and footage into our everyday lives.
“We constantly think that the streaming platforms are going to come and help and save us. But we have to make our own stories and then sell them to the platforms, because that’s the way this industry works these days,” Mr. Horrocks said.
