Survey on Horse Racing, Bicycle Racing, and Boat Racing | Horse Racing Tops the List as the Most Interesting Public Sport at 79%

The information site 'Settlement Guide,' operated by Site Creation Co., Ltd., conducted a 'Survey on Horse Racing, Bicycle Racing, and Boat Racing' among 100 individuals who have experienced betting on these sports.

Survey Period: May 17–18, 2026
Survey Entity: Site Creation Co., Ltd.
Survey Method: Internet survey via CrowdWorks
Target Audience: Men and women with experience betting on horse racing, bicycle racing, and boat racing
Valid Responses: 100
Survey Content: The most interesting public sport (single answer) and the reasons for finding it interesting (multiple answers allowed)

Public sports have various appeals beyond just being a target for betting, such as the sheer power of the race developments, the depth of prediction, the excitement of live viewing, and the drama surrounding the athletes and horses.
In this survey, respondents were asked to choose the 'most interesting public sport' among horse racing, bicycle racing, and boat racing, and to provide their reasons.

Actual Survey Overview (Excerpt)

'Horse Racing' is the most interesting public sport, leading with 79%
When asked 'Which public sport do you find the most interesting?' to 100 people who have bet on these sports, the most common answer was 'Horse Racing' at 79%.
This was followed by 'Boat Racing' at 16% and 'Bicycle Racing' at 5%.

Survey Results on the Most Interesting Public Sport:
Horse Racing: 79%
Boat Racing: 16%
Bicycle Racing: 5%

Horse racing is favored for having many elements involved in predictions, such as the characteristics of each horse and jockey, bloodlines, track conditions, weather, and race developments.
Furthermore, free responses included comments like 'There is romance in supporting a single horse,' 'It is interesting to trace the bloodlines,' and 'The sense of speed of the horse and rider running as one is appealing.' This indicates that many people enjoy not only the gambling aspect but also the sport itself and its background stories.

The most common reason for being interesting is 'The race itself is interesting' at 61%
When asked 'What are the reasons you find it interesting?' in a multiple-choice question format, the top answer was 'The race itself is interesting' at 61%.
This was followed by 'Making predictions is interesting' (57%), 'The sheer power is interesting' (50%), and 'Live viewing is interesting' (45%).

Survey Results on Reasons for Finding Public Sports Interesting:
The race itself is interesting: 61%
Making predictions is interesting: 57%
The sheer power is interesting: 50%
Live viewing is interesting: 45%
The human drama is interesting: 20%
Betting all day is interesting: 19%
Aiming for high payouts is interesting: 19%
High media exposure makes it interesting: 16%
Internet betting is interesting: 14%
It is easy to win, which is interesting: 11%
The prominent activities of female athletes are interesting: 5%

The top reason, 'The race itself is interesting,' suggests that respondents value not just the outcome of the bet, but the development of the sport, the sense of speed, and the tension of not knowing the winner until the very end.
Also, 'Making predictions is interesting' ranked high at 57%, showing that the process of building one's own predictions based on race cards, past data, and the condition of athletes/jockeys/horses is a major attraction of public sports.

'Horse Racing' receives notable praise for bloodlines, data, and dramatic elements
In the free responses, the following comments were received regarding horse racing:
- 'Even setting gambling aside, horse racing is interesting because of the romance of supporting one horse.'
- 'You can feel history when a favorite horse's offspring perform well or when enjoying the bloodlines.'
- 'Horse racing involves the human drama of many people, such as breeders, stables, trainers, farriers, and owners, which is also interesting.'
- 'The appeal lies in the long-lasting enjoyment provided by the variations depending on the characteristics of horses and jockeys, as well as the daily conditions.'

Horse racing is supported not only for predicting race outcomes but also for the enjoyment derived from numerous factors like bloodlines, past performance, track conditions, weather, and compatibility with jockeys.
Additionally, long-term storytelling elements, such as a horse's growth and generational bloodline connections, were cited as attractive features.

'Boat Racing' appeals through a sense of speed and race developments dictated by natural conditions
Regarding boat racing, some voices expressed that its unique appeal comes from the sense of speed inherent in water sports and the fact that it is influenced by natural conditions like waves and wind.
- 'Boat racing is an interesting public sport because it is the only race held on water, making it subject to natural elements like waves and wind.'
- 'Above all, the overwhelming power of the speed. When seen up close, the tremendous speed of the boats is overwhelming.'
- 'I feel the drama in the timing up to the start and the moment of the first turn.'

Boat racing seems to be appreciated for the tactics at the start and turns, and the sense of speed where victory or defeat is decided in a short time.
Furthermore, some responses focused on the fact that races are mixed-gender, the relationships among athletes, and the human drama.

'Bicycle Racing' features tactical maneuvering among athletes and the characteristics of each track