[ODDS and EVENS] Yuichi Fukunaga Nearing the End of a Stellar Career as a Jockey

Becoming a Trainer

He said on December 8, 2022, a day before his birthday, that he had passed the JRA's license examination to become a trainer and that he would be retiring in a few months.

But before Fukunaga steps away from the spotlight as a jockey, French jockey Christophe Lemaire paid tribute to his longtime rival.

"Yuichi has been one of the most respected, recognized and prolific [jockeys] in Japanese horse racing history," Lemaire commented on Friday, February 10. "His horse sense at young age, probably because his father was a jockey himself, soon made him a top rider in the country."

Lemaire continued his analysis by saying, "His riding style was soft and smooth, [and] his great knowledge of his rides and the horses around gave him good advantage to get the best from his horses.

"Even at this stage, you can see him every day at the track work and you can feel his passion for his sport. For sure he will become a great trainer and I wish him the best for the future."

A Career of Steady Success

What's next for Fukunaga?

He said on December 8, 2022, a day before his birthday, that he had passed the JRA's license examination to become a trainer and that he would be retiring in a few months.

Fukunaga's career began with a flourish. He collected his first career victory in his first JRA race (4-Saimi Shori) aboard Marbutz Brevest on March 2, 1996, at Chukyo Racecourse in Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture.As he became an established rider, he enjoyed sustained success. For example, he won a quintet of G1 races three times apiece: the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1999, 2002, 2005), the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (2002, 2010, 2011) the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (2004, 2016, 2019), the Tokyo Yushun (aka the Japanese Derby in 2018, 2020, 2021) and the Yushun Himba (aka the Japanese Oaks in 2004, 2005 and 2007).In addition, Fukunaga was victorious in the February Stakes, Kikuka Sho, Oka Sho, Satsuki Sho and Yasuda Kinen, all of which are G1 races, twice apiece.

A Model of Consistency

Since 2010, the Shiga Prefecture native recorded 100 or more victories on the JRA circuit every year through 2022. He was the JRA's winningest jockey in 2011 (133 races) and 2013 (131).

And since 2018, he was fourth, fourth, third, fourth and seventh in total wins among JRA jockeys.

More than a decade ago, Fukunaga showed that he was never satisfied to just stick to what would appear comfortable. Enjoying success in his homeland was nice, of course, but challenging himself against unfamiliar overseas competition was an important measuring stick for him.

In the summer of 2012, Fukunaga tested his riding skills at Del Mar Racetrack near San Diego, California.His translator at the time, Mikki Tsuge, observed that Fukunaga was hungry for a new challenge.

"He came here knowing it is going to be very difficult for him," Tsuge said in an interview with the Paulick Report, an online racing journal, in July 2012. "In Japan, the fans may think [that] with his skills, he will have the opportunity to ride and win many races in the United States. But he came here with a realistic attitude that he is not well known, and he wants the Japanese fans not to be disappointed and to understand that it is a big challenge. He wants to learn and improve his skills as a rider."

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