**American Family Visiting**
This was an interesting visit. While it's a little bit of a trip to get from Sapporo to Obihiro Racecourse, it's likely worth the visit if you want to experience a type of weighted sled racing that can't be found anywhere else. The grounds consist of main building where gambling and seating is found along with a couple of small shops and restaurants both in and on the grounds.
You can either take a taxi to get here (which we did to get there) from the station, or if it's a nice day, the walk is not too bad (but still a walk!).
There is also a small petting area where small farm animals and even the huge horses are out and you can feed them (these horses are HUGE though).
The racing itself was interesting and while I understand this is traditional and that the animals aren't abused, it's tough to watch when whips are used, so if that bothers you, you may not want to go. The horses appear well cared for, the staff was friendly, and it was a lively crowd. You really have to get down at the race course level and walk/run along with them as the race goes.
This place is Aaaaaaaawesome!! I always take my family gambling here when they come to visit and they always win big money. I have won loads of money here and I’ve only spent like ¥500 at most over the 18 years I have been here. My wife’s dad is totally addicted to this place and spends all his cash gambling here and on booze. He can tell you exactly what horses to bet on. He lied to my wife though and she lost all her money on some silly bet a few years ago and she always reminds him about that as she was about to bet on the winners but changed her choice because of him and lost! So just bet on whoever you want.
It is so much fun watching the horses run as you can run along side them. I always can get to the end before they do so I can see them at the start AND at the finish line - I mean there ain’t no where else in the world you can do that at a horse race. Actually if you see me on the line up, you should bet on me as I seem to be faster than all the horses.
There are good places to eat that are really cheap and you can get your kids to give carrots to some old horses that are about to go to the horse sashimi place across the road.
Unique and special experience. A must place of this city
Fun and interesting experience, everything was really well organised. The races are only on Saturday and Sundays starting at the afternoon, every 30 minutes there is a new race. We liked looking at the preparation for the race as well as the race itself which is very short. My husband even guessed the winning horse, unfortunately for non Japanese speakers it’s impossible to understand the gambling machines so we couldn’t do that.
Very fun experience seeing big Banba Horses (850 - 1200 kg) racing while pulling 550-600 kg metal sled through obstacle hills!
The one and only Ban’ei Horse Race in the world!
Lot’s of parking space, rest area, foods.
