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In most of the world, horseracing is a fast-paced, head-spinning event.
在世界上的大多數地方，賽馬都是一個快速并且讓人目不暇接的比賽項目。
But here on Japan's northernmost island, Hokkaido, the races move ...A little bit slower.
然而，在日本最北邊的島嶼——北海道這里，比賽的節奏……稍微慢了那么一點兒。
Ban'ei is a form of horseracing found only in Hokkaido in which draft horses pull heavy sleds down a 200 meter dirt track.
“挽曳賽馬”是北海道特有的賽馬形式，在這種比賽中，馬匹要拉著沉重的雪橇沿著200米長的土路滑下去。
The sleds can range from 900 to 2,000 pounds,
雪橇的重量從900磅（約820斤）到2000磅（約1810斤）不等，
so Ban'ei horses are often twice as big as their speedy counterparts.
所以，參加這一比賽的賽馬的體型通常是它們的速度型同行的兩倍。
Kikuchi Kazuki has been a Ban'ei jockey for the past nine years.
菊池一樹是一位已有9年參賽歷史的騎手。
But the history of this race goes back much further.
但這項賽事的歷史還要早得多。
The popularity of the races grew,
隨著比賽越來越受歡迎，
and starting in the 1950s there were four cities hosting races across Hokkaido.
從50年代開始，北海道舉辦這一賽事的城市增加到了四個。
However, in recent years interest has waned.
然而，近年來，人們對這一賽事的興趣逐漸消退了。
And today the races are only held at this racetrack.
如今已經只剩下這一個賽馬場在繼續舉辦了。
But that didn't stop Kikuchi.
但這并未阻止菊池參賽的熱情。
Pulling one-ton sleds is no easy task.
拉著成噸的雪橇參賽并不容易。
But these draft horses race only every two weeks.
不過這些賽馬要每兩周才參加一次比賽。
And in-between, they're well taken care of.
而在比賽的間隙，它們都得到了很好的照顧。
And for first time spectators, seeing Ban'ei horses can be a bit of a shock.
對那些第一次觀看挽曳賽馬的觀眾來說，那些賽馬可能會讓他們有些吃驚。
There have been signs that Ban'ei racing may be regaining popularity.
有跡象表明，挽曳賽馬可能正在恢復人氣。
Either way, Kakuchi is happy to be part of this tradition.
不管怎樣，菊池都很高興成為這項傳統的一部分。
