Love for a loser makes Japanese horse a favourite
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Your support makes all the difference.She's a nervy seven-year-old nag with a record of 98 losses over five years but Haruurara has become one of Japan's unlikeliest sporting attractions. All she has to do is keep losing.
The thoroughbred filly, described by her trainer Dai Muneishi as "very difficult to control", has been at the back of the pack since 1998 and has never been placed higher than fourth, one of the worst records in Japan's racing history.
With her advancing years and her inglorious century looming on 14 December, it looked like the year would end with a trip to the knacker's yard, but Haruurara has been saved by public sympathy.
A growing legion of fans, egged on by a press pack starved of good news, has made the pilgrimage to Kochi Racecourse in Japan's far south to pay homage to the loveable loser. Haruurara lucky charms have become a cult item, her image adorns thousands of T-shirts and the horse's postbag bulges with letters from punters who claim to feel her pain.
The filly is now set to become the subject of a documentary by the public broadcaster NHK. Masaaki Sugiura, an executive producer at NHK, says he longed to know to why Haruurara has become so popular. He said: "I concluded that people felt empathy with this never-say-die horse. Fans bet on her even though they know she'll lose. She cheers up sick people and those down on their luck. I want to show why people like this are so drawn to her."
Haruurara's efforts are prized, in a country where the quality of gambare, or never giving up, is highly respected. Koji Nakamura, a veteran punter, says: "I like her because she never stops trying despite all those setbacks. She's a lesson to us all."
Mr Muneishi bristles at talk of how much she is worth. He says: "I don't know what I'd get for her. I've already had ten offers from people who want her after her retirement, all of which I declined. She is going to a new owner who wanted her before she became so popular."
All eyes will be on Kochi Racecourse on 14 December to see whether Haruurara can reach the Big 100. But what if she should finish first? Mr Muneishi claims he would be "delighted". Mr Nakamura is more blunt. "That would just spoil everything for me."
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