Takayuki Yano Joins Exclusive Club with 3,000 Wins in Local Racing

Takayuki Yano Achieves 3,000 Wins in Local Racing

On October 17, 2023, Takayuki Yano, a prominent jockey affiliated with Tokyo City Keiba (TCK), reached an incredible milestone by achieving his 3,000th victory in local horse racing. This significant accomplishment took place during the 11th race at Kawasaki Racecourse, where he rode the horse Kararipayat, trained by Katsuyoshi Uchida. With this win, Yano became only the 14th active jockey in local racing history to reach 3,000 victories, and uniquely, he is the only current jockey in the Sankan-do (Southern Kanto) region to have achieved this feat.

Yano was born on August 3, 1984, and has been a part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Jockey Association since obtaining his jockey license on March 31, 2002. His first ride was on April 12, 2002, during a race at Takasaki, where he finished eighth on a horse named Hunting Lady. Yano secured his first victory shortly after, on May 3, 2002, riding Cosmo Hiryu to victory in another race at Takasaki. His career saw a notable transition when he transferred to the Ohi Racecourse on February 2, 2005.

As of the conclusion of the 11th race on October 17, 2023, Yano’s record stands impressively at 19,998 races, yielding 3,000 wins and 2,406 second-place finishes, solely in local racing (excluding Japan Racing Association and overseas competitions).

In light of his recent achievement, Yano expressed his feelings, reflecting, "Reaching 3,000 victories feels truly remarkable. I owe this achievement to the unwavering support from my fans. While I didn’t formally set this record as a target, I felt a growing desire to achieve it as the milestone approached. I aimed to accomplish this perhaps next week, and I’m thrilled to have done so today."

This year has been notably exciting for Yano, having experienced victories in the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and overseas, pushing him to maintain a focused attitude. He emphasized his commitment, stating, "I aim to keep my focus as I continue to tackle each day ahead. While I appreciate that aiming for the national leaderboard could be seen as a goal, I believe winning each race is paramount. Ultimately, I aspire to meet the expectations placed upon me by my team."

Takayuki Yano’s journey in the world of local horse racing is an inspiring tale of dedication and perseverance, and reaching such a significant milestone underscores his formidable talent and relentless pursuit of excellence. With many more races ahead, fans and industry veterans alike are eager to see what this remarkable jockey will accomplish next.