The Mejiro Ranch - Rise, Golden Age, Downfall and Legacy.
Chapter 1: The beginning.
Mejiro Ranch is a former producer of Japanese horse racing (owner-breeder). What set the Mejiro Ranch apart at the time is that they are known for "home-grown" their own horses.
The Mejiro Ranch was operated in the form of an owner-breeder that owns the horses they produced and goes to races without selling them. As opposed to just simply producing them and sell them off to businessman wanting to make a investment (gamble).
The symbol of Mejiro Ranch is the match uniform with a white background, green horizontal stripes, and green vertical striped sleeves. As reflected into the Umas race wear designs main color pallete.
Examples: Mejiro Ardan (left) and Mejiro McQueen (right)
The Ranch starting out with Mejiro Asama (1966) and Mejiro Hiryu (1972) (couldn't find a pic sorry).
Mejiro Asama ran in total of 48 races. In which he came in first in a total of 17 times.
Mejiro Hiryu also raced but doesn't have much notable records.
The first tragedy befall the ranch in 1977, Mount Usu, a volcano near the ranch, exploded, causing damage to the extent that the entire ranch was covered in volcanic ash. In fact, thanks to the volcanic ash raising the fertility of the soil, it had a positive effect.
Mejiro Asama was believed to be infertile due to his sickness and injuries throughout his career, but he managed to make 21 offsprings, which included his most successful foal, Mejiro Titan.
Mejiro Hiryu also able to produce another successful off-spring, Mejiro Ramonu.
Mejiro Titan (left) went on to race 27 times, his most notable victories are 1982 Autumn Tenno Sho and 1982 Nikkei Sho.
Mejiro Ramonu (right) went on to race 12 times, she is the first mare in Japan to win the Triple Tiara. She also won the 1986 Queen Elizabeth II cup.
Chapter 2: Golden Age.
Mejiro Titan and Ramonu are not their one-hit wonder.
The ranch went on to produce successful race horses such as.
Mejiro Durren, Mejiro Ardan, Mejiro Ryan, Mejiro Palmer and Mejiro McQueen.
From the late 80s to early 90s, Mejiro horses were a force to reckon with.
Durren was the first Mejiro crown name to win the Arima Kinen.
And they bring to the Mejiro Ranch a total of 9 G1 titles victories with 4 from Mejiro McQueen.
Chapter 3: Decline.
From the mid to late 90s, with the wave of imported horses such as Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa. And the first crops of Sunday Silence's off-spring.
The Mejiro horses were simply unable to compete against them.
During this dark time, they were able to produce two successful horses with Mejiro crown name.
Mejiro Dober and Mejiro Bright.
Dober herself able to won 5 G1 titles.
Bright himsslf able to won 1 G1 title.
In the 2000s, Mejiro Bailey was born. He is the odd-one-out because he is a Mejiro where both of his sire and dam doesn't from the Mejiro Ranch.
Sired by Sunday Silence.
Mejiro Bailey went on to win Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and is the last Mejiro to ever win a G1 title.
Chapter 4: Legacy.
To make matters worse, Mt. Usu erupted again in 2000 and the ranch suffered a blow, along with the 2011 earthquake which is the last straw.
On April 26, 2011, the ranch announced that they will withdraw from the horse racing industry.
With the help of Shadai Stallion Station, all of the land, racehorses and properties of the ranch has been re-established as Lake Villa Farm.
And since then, no horses are longer have the crown name "Mejiro" anymore.
Currently, only Mejiro Dober is alive in her retirement and still bring the "Mejiro" crown name.
Once she pass away, which mean the "Mejiro" name is only a part of history.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.