The Sense Behind Translating the Legendary Horse Stay Gold as 'Golden Journey'

Since I wrote about golden time yesterday, I'll share a story related to Golden Week today as well.

Starting today, it's Golden Week!
Since it's a rare break, many of you must have been thinking about doing things you can't usually do or going places you can't usually go.
But, under these circumstances.
I wonder if this year will be another holiday of restraint.

In my case, I had to give up on a trip I had planned six months ago at the last minute. (The flight was fine, but the hotel cancellation fee...)

My Golden Week trip has truly 'stayed' put.

Well then, let's change the mood and talk about a legendary horse whose name contains gold, journey, and stay.

Actually, thanks to a game, past racehorses are currently booming. Most of the horses that appear there are so-called legendary horses that won G1 races many times during their active careers.

However, a horse that was called a legendary silver collector because it kept coming in 2nd or 3rd place throughout its career has become hugely popular.

The name of that horse is
Stay Gold!

Nowadays, it is also famous as a great stallion that produced champion horses like Orfevre and Gold Ship.

During its active career, Stay Gold couldn't win at all, partly due to its temperament.
From moving up from conditional races in 1997 to winning the G2 Meguro Kinen in 2000, it actually lost 29 races in a row.



But what's amazing is how it lost.

In those 29 consecutive losses, it came in 2nd place 10 times (including 4 times in G1 races) and placed in the top five in 22 out of 29 races, consistently putting up a good fight.

Because of that, Stay Gold was called a silver collector.

Many people must have thought that it would be impossible for it to win a G1 race before retirement.

However, and this is a big however.

A drama was waiting where it fulfilled that long-cherished wish at the very last moment.

(All photos were taken by me)

The place where that drama occurred was the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

In December 2001, the international race Hong Kong Vase (G1) was held there.

Stay Gold chose a high-level international race, rather than a Japanese race, as its retirement race.

In the race, the front-runner pulled away by 5 lengths until the final 200m, an overwhelming lead.

Just a little more to the finish line...
From here, no other horse would be able to catch up.
1st place was surely decided for the front-runner!
Everyone must have thought so.

At that moment, the shadow of a horse gaining momentum appeared from behind on the straight.

It is Stay Gold.

With a long stride, he overtakes the horses in front.

An incredible finishing kick, as if carrying all the frustrations of his racing career. He leaves the surrounding horses behind in the blink of an eye and latches onto the leading horse.

Thinking back now, perhaps for those final 200 meters, Stay Gold was on a different timeline than the other horses.

Will he reach them, or will he not? With 100 meters to go. With 50 meters to go.

Still not reaching them.

With 10 meters to go.

Reach them!

And then, the finish line.

The winner is...

Yes. It is Stay Gold!

Stay Gold had overtaken the leading horse right at the very edge of the finish line. It was the moment he finally grasped his long-cherished G1 victory in an international overseas race, at the very end of his career as a racehorse.

(You can see that incredible race from around the 7-minute mark in this video)

The saddle cloth Stay Gold wore in that Hong Kong Vase has become legendary among horse racing fans.

On it was written 'Golden Journey,' the Chinese translation for Stay Gold.

It perfectly represents a racehorse that turned his life into a golden journey at the very last moment. This brilliant translation will likely never be forgotten by the world.

(Photos other than the video were taken by me)

……………
I was trying to talk about rice balls, but I ended up talking passionately about horse racing.

[657th Rice Ball] York Mart (Salmon)

Having a York Mart salmon rice ball at Saitama Stadium.
If I had to name a golden ingredient for myself, it would definitely be salmon!

In the past, I even created a ranking that only collected salmon rice balls from all over the country.

This golden ingredient always inspires me while I take on challenges.

Golden Week.
It might be a 'stay' (at home) year this year, but I want to keep my heart as positive as gold.

Thank you for the meal!

Please also check out my 'I'm the only one here for the rice balls' trilogy set at the racetrack.

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