Japan’s dancing jockey: new landmark for 66-year-old legend Fumio Matoba

Career milestone: Fumio Matoba celebrates after riding his landmark winner in Tokyo. Photo: RakutenKeiba

Legendary rider famed for his unique style has ridden his 7,400th winner on Japan’s local government circuit.

Japan: Fumio Matoba, the veteran jockey known as the ‘Emperor of Ohi’, reached another significant career milestone on Wednesday [March 8] when he rode his 7,400th winner on Japan’s NAR circuit – at the age of 66.

The remarkable Matoba, who reaches 50 years in the saddle in October, achieved his landmark victory on Pawe Poke Toshi in the opener at Ohi racetrack in Tokyo.

Matoba is the winningmost rider in Japanese racing history, having overtaken the mark of ‘Iron Man’ Takemi Sasaki – who retired in 2001 – when he partnered his 7,154th winner at Ohi.

He has ridden 7,405 winners altogether since he has also ridden a handful on the better-known JRA (Japan Racing Association) circuit plus one in South Korea. Matoba stands eighth on the world all-time list in career victories, where Brazilian legend Jorge Ricardo leads the way with a incredible 13,249 successes, according to Pagina de Turf.

Matoba, who had his first ride on October 16, 1973, is a legendary figure in Japanese racing, where he is famed for the ‘Matoba dance’, his idiosyncratic way of riding a finish which looks ungainly to western eyes as the jockey bounces high out of the saddle during his drive.

He operates on the second-tier NAR (National Association of Racing) circuit in Japan, which is run by local governments as opposed to the premier racing under the auspices of the JRA.

As such, he deals primarily in dirt racing, and has ridden exclusively at Ohi – the popular city-centre venue known officially as Tokyo City Keiba – in recent years. With 4,408 wins, Yutaka Take is all-time leader on JRA tracks.

Jockeys: all-time top ten in career victories

1. Jorge Ricardo* 13,249
2. Russell Baze 12,844
3. Pablo Falero 9,580
4. Laffit Pincay 9,530
5. Bill Shoemaker 8,833
6. Pat Day 8,803
7. Edgar Prado* 7,421
8. Fumio Matoba* 7,405
9. David Gall 7,396
10. Perry Ouzts* 7,344
*still active