1.
horse racing
The sport of racing horses, typically with betting. In Japan, this is a popular form of legalized gambling.
競馬 refers to the sport of horse racing. In Japan, it is one of the few forms of legal gambling alongside 競輪 (bicycle racing), 競艇 (boat racing), and オートレース (motorcycle racing).
Common collocations:
- 競馬を見る (to watch horse racing)
- 競馬に賭ける (to bet on horse racing)
- 競馬場 (racetrack)
- 競馬ファン (horse racing fan)
Cultural note: Major races like the 日本ダービー and the 有馬記念 draw huge audiences and significant betting pools.