A SPECIAL TIE 
In-between paddock visits, races and checking the horses coming in after the race via the underground viewing area (a fascinating idea, probably unique to the Tokyo track, giving punters a glimpse of the winner's stalls and the weighing-in room), I managed to find something rather nice in the Turfy Shop yesterday - a '79th Nippon Derby' silk tie, commissioned by the JRA, and designed by Michiko Koshino (the lady behind the Michiko London brand). There's a light gold version (the one I bought to remember Tenshinramman's win by), or a red option. At under 3000 yen, the price is reasonable, and the unusual graphics can always provide a talking point at the office, drawing mutual Keiba fans out of the shadows. Don't think I'll wear it to the stables today, though, as Jaguar is just as likely to eat it as admire it...

Another 3000 worth mentioning: The blog's visitor count has just passed the 3000 mark! With Turf, Dirt & Thoroughbreds being written in Japan, largely about horses based in Japan, naturally that's where most of the traffic is emanating from, especially on weekdays as folks are going to and from work, I've noticed. America provides the next biggest audience, followed by Russia and the UK. Germany and Switzerland lead the figures for the European mainland, with occasional visits from France, Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. We've also had visitors from South Korea, China and Malaysia, as even as far afield as Brazil. Strangely, given the lack of a language barrier, no-one from the Antipodes as yet. But it's early days, with tomorrow still only our 40th day online.