The Conclusion of a Man Who Dreamed of Making a Living Through Horse Racing and Continued to Stay in His Car

This is the story of my senior, Ichinosuke, who I used to look up to.

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"Yes! Go, go! That's it, that's it-!"

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My name is "Akira Ichinosuke." I'm a salaryman who relieves daily stress by betting on horse races.

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Today is the day of a highly anticipated stakes race, and my prediction is on the current favorite, "Love Carrot."

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"Come on! Come on!"

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"And now, Love Carrot, number 11, is leading as we approach the third corner! Still in the lead! Rounding the fourth corner and heading into the straightaway! Oh, my goodness! Love Carrot is losing steam, and Diamond Head has taken the lead! Ohhhh, and it's a photo finish!"

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"Damn it! What the heck! What a day!"

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I got into horse racing because a friend invited me, and when I tried betting 500 JPY, I won a 2,500 JPY dividend.

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Ever since then, horse racing has become my hobby, and whenever I have free time, I go to the racecourse.

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"But lately, I've been losing more often than not... I've spent all my savings and even my bonus. I hope the 3,000 JPY I have left can turn into a small fortune... I guess I have to aim for a long shot... Alright, let's go all in on a trifecta bet!"

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And so, without giving it much thought, I placed a trifecta bet on numbers 1, 2, and 3...

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Now, it's showtime!

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Forty minutes later...

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"Coming around the fourth corner and into the straightaway! Saddam Spain is in the lead! Followed by number 2, Yomogi Paradise, and then number 3, Back Black!"

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"Huh? No way... Don't tell me...?"

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"Gooooal!"

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"Yes! I won! I did it!!! Whoo-hoo!!!"

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(Huh? So, that's 108,000 JPY at 360 odds?)

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This is amazing!

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When the dividend exceeds 100,000 JPY, you can't use the automatic redemption machine, and you have to go to the counter to collect your winnings.

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(This is the best! It was my dream to come to this counter!)

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"Here is your dividend. Please be careful on your way home."

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"Oh, thank you very much."

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(I've never held this much cash with the bank bands still on it! Am I a genius? I made 100,000 JPY from just one race... It's so stupid to be a company employee.)

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Submitting a Resignation Letter to the Company

With the belief that I could make a living solely from horse racing, I submitted my resignation letter and quit my job as a salaryman.

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(Alright, from now on, I'll do my best!)

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Horse races are usually held on weekends, but local horse races are also held on weekdays.

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I thought that if I traveled to racecourses across the country and participated in local horse races during the week, I could increase my earnings.

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"That's it! Let's buy a car first!"

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And so, I started looking for a used kei car.

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(If I'm going to be sleeping in the car, I want one where I can stretch my legs... Let's go with a van!)

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I was scared of buying a cheap car, so I chose a nearly new car with decent fuel efficiency.

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Here it is, 1,590,000 JPY...

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I borrowed 500,000 JPY from a consumer finance company to make up for the shortfall.

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Then, I terminated the lease on the apartment I was living in and sold all the appliances and anything else that could get me some money. Well, it didn't amount to much, but...

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Although I went into debt, I wasn't too concerned because I thought I would make it up soon.

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Instead, since I needed an internet connection for researching horse racing information, I signed up for a pocket WiFi contract and prepared a sleeping bag and portable electric appliances. I already had a laptop and a tablet, so I was all set.

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Well, I'll be off next week!

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The Start of the Car Camping Life

According to this prediction site, numbers 1, 3, and 6 are strong contenders, and another site predicts that numbers 2, 3, and 7 are likely winners. This means that number 3 is probably a safe bet...

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By the time I finished checking the predictions, it was already night...

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(I'm hungry... I still have some of the money I borrowed left, so let's splurge a little on the first day of car camping!)

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I bought sushi and indulged in it with beer, toasting to myself!

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The parking lot of a roadside station is where I park my car to sleep. It's convenient because there are toilets and free Wi-Fi. It would be perfect if there were a bath, but since there isn't one, I look for inexpensive public baths.

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(Ah~, this is life... I think I'll turn in for the night...)

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The next morning, after a good night's sleep, it's time to head to the local horse race!

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Upon arriving at the racecourse, I made my way to the paddock to check out the horses and make my predictions.

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Number 2, Sky Blue, looks well-prepared and has good muscle tone, so I'm confident it will run well.

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This race is as good as mine!

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Now, the only question is how to bet. I still have some money left, but I need to set aside some for living expenses...

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For today, I'll set a budget of 10,000 JPY and bet it all on straight bets. A straight bet only requires you to pick the winner, so the odds of winning are higher.

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Alright, let's do this.

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"The gates are open! All the horses burst out with incredible speed!"

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"Go, Sky Blue!!!"

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"And Sky Blue has taken the lead! Sky Blue is pulling ahead!"

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"Keep going full throttle!!!"

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"Sky Blue crosses the finish line with an incredible performance!"

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"Yes! I did it!"

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My prediction was spot on! I also won almost all the remaining races, turning my 10,000 JPY stake into 50,000 JPY.

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I felt like I was on cloud nine.

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"I'm a genius! I might get rich just by betting on horse races!? Tonight, I'll treat myself to a steak... And tomorrow, I'll stay at a slightly more luxurious inn and relax in the bath!"

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Now, it's time to focus on predicting the next horse race.

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As I checked the numerous prediction sites, time flew by.

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I was getting used to the car camping lifestyle...

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(I should have started this lifestyle earlier... It was so stupid of me to work for a meager salary. Oh! Right! I'll be traveling a long distance tomorrow, so I should get some rest!)

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And so, I continued my days, visiting local horse races during the day and researching the next races at night.

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I'm amazing for not being complacent about my talent and for my unwavering dedication!

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However, lately, I've been on a losing streak...

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The Debt Keeps Growing

"Another miss today... My stake money is almost gone... But I have talent, so I'll make it back in no time! Tomorrow, I'll be going to a new racecourse, so my luck will change for sure!"

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"Let me fill up the tank for tomorrow's journey..."

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When I went to the gas station, it cost me 5,040 JPY for 30 liters of gas.

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"Huh? Is the gas price at this station 168 JPY per liter?"

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(Gas prices have been going up lately. Eating out, taking baths, and doing laundry at coin laundromats are all expensive... Alright! Let's invest more!)

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I decided to borrow more money from a consumer finance company...

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(This is an investment. It's an investment in my horse racing business. It can't be helped... All entrepreneurs do this, and if my talent blossoms again, I'll make it back in no time...)

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With a renewed mindset, I continued to challenge horse races, but...

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I couldn't seem to win...

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Eventually, I reached the maximum borrowing limit.

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(There's no turning back now... I have to increase this money through horse racing...)

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To secure more stake money, I stopped going to public baths and using coin laundromats. Even though it was summer, I turned off the car's air conditioning to improve fuel efficiency.

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Sweat dripped down, and my body odor became stronger.

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I also had to cut down on food expenses. With the money I save, I can bet on one race with a convenience store onigiri...)

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(I'm hungry...)

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But I endured, thinking it would pay off soon.

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Once I win, I'll soak in a hot spring and refresh myself! And then, I'll treat myself to delicious sushi again!

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However, reality was cruel...

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In the next race...

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"Damn it! What the heck! You've got to be kidding me!"

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Why can't I win...

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The horse racing gods didn't seem to be on my side.

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Every time I ran out of money, I went to consumer finance companies and borrowed up to the limit. But it still wasn't enough, so I even resorted to loan sharks. My debt eventually exceeded 300,000 JPY.

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"Go, Mattrion! Catch up!"

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"Goal! Mega Diamond finishes first!"

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"Damn it! You piece of junk!"

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I crumpled up the betting ticket and threw it away.

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An old man sitting next to me scolded me.

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"Hey, young man, don't throw away your ticket just because you lost. It's not good manners."

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"Shut up, old man! Mind your own business!"

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"You stink, and your clothes are tattered. Are you homeless or something?"

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There's No Turning Back

(I'm out of money... I'll bet everything I have left at the next racecourse! It's do or die!)

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I only had 6,000 JPY left, which wouldn't even last me a few days...

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There was no way I could repay my debts...

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This was my last chance.

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The next day...

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Alright, there are 12 races today, so I can bet 500 JPY on each race.

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Last time, I turned 6,000 JPY into 30,000 JPY, so I'm confident it will work out this time.

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And now, the races are about to begin!

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"Spread Hana is in the lead! Spread Hana is pulling away!"

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"Huh? Why isn't Green Kid, my pick, even trying? Come on, give it your all!"

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I lost the first race, but I only lost 500 JPY.

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It's fine; I still have 11 races left.

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However, my predictions for the first five races were all wrong.

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I kept losing, and the final race was my last chance.

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(This is bad... Should I go for a long shot and bet on number 2... No, I'll stick with my research and bet on number 3, Dahlia Command, to win.)

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And now, the final race begins!

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"It's started! Pair Mist is running in the middle and taking the lead! Pair Mist is still in front as they approach the final corner!"

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Cheers erupted, and my palms were sweaty with adrenaline.

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"Maria Phantom is making a move! Monkey Raccoon is also catching up!"

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"Huh? Why isn't Dahlia Command coming through? My livelihood is at stake here!"

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"Oh, and here's a sudden upset! Dahlia Command has lost speed and finishes in fourth place!"

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"Huh? I... I lost..."

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The shocking result left me in a daze, and I collapsed to my knees, unable to speak.

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I sat there in a daze until the racecourse closed...

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"Hey, customer! We're closing, so please leave!"

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The security guard ushered me out, but I was still disoriented.

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Somehow, I made it back to my car, but my mind was in chaos.

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(I can't go on... What should I do... I don't have a single JPY left, and I can't repay my debt of over 300,000 JPY...)

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As I sat in the parking lot, watching people leave the racecourse and get into their cars, I noticed something.

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None of them had dark circles under their eyes, and they were all dressed neatly. They didn't seem to be struggling with hunger, even though I was sure I had put in more effort and research than any of them.

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I was supposed to have talent, so why were they the ones looking happy?

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Whatever... Where did it all go wrong...

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I'm sick of this crappy life... I'll end it all...

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I drove to the loan shark's office and borrowed 10,000 JPY.

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With that money, I bought charcoal and a Shichirin grill and returned to my car, which I parked on the shoulder of a forest road. I lit the charcoal, intending to end my life.

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I don't know how much time passed before I woke up in a hospital bed.

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Disoriented, I looked around and saw a nurse who explained what had happened.

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Apparently, a passing farmer noticed my car with its windows sealed and thought it might be a suicide attempt, so they called an ambulance.

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And so, my suicide attempt failed, and I had to consult a lawyer about filing for bankruptcy.

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My parents, with whom I had been estranged for years due to a fight, were notified by the police and rushed to my side. Thankfully, we reconciled, although I caused them some financial burden. I plan to work hard to repay them.

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Summary

After his discharge from the hospital, Senior Ichinosuke started working at his family's "kamaboko" shop in Miyagi Prefecture. Although he is the second son and won't take over the business, he works hard alongside his older brother to support his parents.

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I was too scared to ask if he still bets on horse races, but if he does, I hope he limits himself to a fixed amount each month.

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Nevertheless, I'm just glad he's alive.