Another season of Japanese thoroughbred racing comes to an end on Sunday with the 55th Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse, where 16 of the nation's most popular runners will try to have the last laugh of 2010.
The Arima Kinen is neck and neck each year with Britain's Grand National as the world's highest grossing race, generating sales of more than ¥40.4 billion last season. At its all-time high 14 years ago, the Arima Kinen raked in a phenomenal ¥87.5 billion.
The first 10 horses in the maximum field of 16 are chosen by the fans, the rest determined in order of earnings. The top vote-getter this year was none other than Buena Vista, the autumn Tenno-sho champion and the demoted runnerup in last month's controversial Japan Cup.