Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, today welcomed Japan's announcement to allow more foreign horses to compete in top Japanese races. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) has decided to allocate at least two places to foreign-bred horses for all of its Group 1 races, beginning with the Emperor's Cup in the Northern Spring of 2000. The plan will see foreign-bred horses able to compete in top-level races such as the Japan Derby for the first time. "This is a welcome step in the opening of the Japanese market," Mr Vaile said. At the same time the JRA also announced it would double the number of races open to entries from horses that are based overseas. The effect of these changes will be to increase over a period of a few years the number of "international" races open to foreign-born horses from the current 12 to 24 races. "The Federal Government has been asking the JRA to improve access for Southern Hemisphere horses for a number of years. "We look forward to the complete lifting of restrictions on foreign entries to Japanese horse races in the near future, and to working with Japan to ensure that horses from the Southern Hemisphere are able to compete evenly," Mr Vaile said. This would include continuing discussions on the amount of weight allowances provided by the JRA. "Such initiatives would give the Australian racing industry open access to one of the most important racing markets in the world. It would also lead to more competitive and exciting horse racing in Japan," Mr Vaile said.
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