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In most of the world, horseracing is a fast-paced, head-spinning event.
在世界上的大多数地方，赛马都是一个快速并且让人目不暇接的比赛项目。
But here on Japan's northernmost island, Hokkaido, the races move ...A little bit slower.
然而，在日本最北边的岛屿——北海道这里，比赛的节奏……稍微慢了那么一点儿。
Ban'ei is a form of horseracing found only in Hokkaido in which draft horses pull heavy sleds down a 200 meter dirt track.
“挽曳赛马”是北海道特有的赛马形式，在这种比赛中，马匹要拉着沉重的雪橇沿着200米长的土路滑下去。
The sleds can range from 900 to 2,000 pounds,
雪橇的重量从900磅（约820斤）到2000磅（约1810斤）不等，
so Ban'ei horses are often twice as big as their speedy counterparts.
所以，参加这一比赛的赛马的体型通常是它们的速度型同行的两倍。
Kikuchi Kazuki has been a Ban'ei jockey for the past nine years.
菊池一树是一位已有9年参赛历史的骑手。
But the history of this race goes back much further.
但这项赛事的历史还要早得多。
The popularity of the races grew,
随着比赛越来越受欢迎，
and starting in the 1950s there were four cities hosting races across Hokkaido.
从50年代开始，北海道举办这一赛事的城市增加到了四个。
However, in recent years interest has waned.
然而，近年来，人们对这一赛事的兴趣逐渐消退了。
And today the races are only held at this racetrack.
如今已经只剩下这一个赛马场在继续举办了。
But that didn't stop Kikuchi.
但这并未阻止菊池参赛的热情。
Pulling one-ton sleds is no easy task.
拉着成吨的雪橇参赛并不容易。
But these draft horses race only every two weeks.
不过这些赛马要每两周才参加一次比赛。
And in-between, they're well taken care of.
而在比赛的间隙，它们都得到了很好的照顾。
And for first time spectators, seeing Ban'ei horses can be a bit of a shock.
对那些第一次观看挽曳赛马的观众来说，那些赛马可能会让他们有些吃惊。
There have been signs that Ban'ei racing may be regaining popularity.
有迹象表明，挽曳赛马可能正在恢复人气。
Either way, Kakuchi is happy to be part of this tradition.
不管怎样，菊池都很高兴成为这项传统的一部分。
