Norihiro Yokoyama

Norihiro Yokoyama
Norihiro Yokoyama after winning the 91st Tokyo Yushun (2024)
Native name	横山典弘
Occupation	Jockey
Born	(1968-02-23) February 23, 1968 (age 56) Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Children	3 (incl. Kazuo and Takeshi)[1]
Height	163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Weight	49 kg (108 lb)
Career wins	2991
Significant horses
Mejiro Ryan, Seiun Sky, Sakura Laurel, Hokuto Vega, Ingrandire, Logi Universe, Gold Ship, One And Only, Aerolithe, Danon Decile

Norihiro Yokoyama (Japanese: 横山典弘; Born February 23, 1968) is a Japanese jockey. As of May 2024, he is the oldest jockey in Japan to win a Grade I race.^[2][3]

Background

Norihiro is born in a family heavily involved in horse racing, with his father, Tomio [ja] being a jockey, as well as his elder brother Yoshikazu [ja] being a retired jockey and teacher at the Horse Racing School.^[4] Two of Norihiro's sons, Kazuo, and Takeshi, are also jockeys.^[5][6]

Career

Norihiro at the awards ceremony following the 76th Tokyo Yushun (2009). From left to right: Taro Aso, Norihiro Yokoyama, and Koichi Sato

Norihiro started racing on March 1, 1986, and won his first race with Kioi God on April 29, 1986.^[7] He won his first GI race with Kyoei Tap in the 1990 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and would go on to win the Takarazuka Kinen the following year with Mejiro Ryan.

Norihiro became a Derby jockey in 2009, after 15 starts at the Derby in his 24 year long career, when he won the Japanese Derby with Logi Universe.^[8] Later that year, on July 18, Norihiro won his 2000th JRA win, the fifth JRA jockey to ever do so, when he won an allowance race held at Sapporo Racecourse with Sugino Blade.^[1][9]

In 2010, Norihiro won the Yushun Himba in a dead heat against Apapane with Saint Emilion, which was the first Grade I race in Japan to end in such a way.^[10]

Norihiro won his second Derby in 2014 when he won the race with One And Only.^[11] Later that year, Norihiro won his 2500th JRA win after Yutaka Take and Yukio Okabe with Clarity Sky [ja] in the inaugural race of the Icho Stakes.^[12]

On September 4, 2016, Norihiro became the fourth jockey to win a graded race in all 10 JRA racecourses following his victory with A Day in the Life [ja] at the Niigata Kinen (GIII).^[13]

On September 2, 2023, Norihiro rode Power Hall at the Sapporo Nisai Stakes. He finished 2nd in that race, but Takeshi won the same race, marking the first time in JRA history where a father and son each finished first and second in a graded race.^[14] The following week, the reverse occurred on that year's Shion Stakes where Norihiro won the race with Moryana [ja] while Takeshi came in second.^[15] This victory also made Norihiro, at age 55, the eldest jockey to have won a JRA graded race, previously held by Yoshitomi Shibata when he won the Leopard Stakes in 2021.^[16]

On January 14, 2024, Norihiro broke his own record of the eldest JRA jockey to win a graded race when he won the Keisei Hai with Danon Decile. This race was also the third graded race ever where a father and son finished in first and second place, as Takeshi came in second with Urban Chic.^[17][18] On May 5 of that year, Norihiro won his 2944th race at an allowance race at Niigata Racecourse with Hawaiian Time, overtaking Yukio Okabe's previously held 2943 wins to become the JRA jockey with the second most win after Yutaka Take.^[19]

On May 26, 2024, Norihiro won his third Derby ever with Danon Decile. This was the eldest Japanese Derby win and Grade I win ever, surpassing Yutaka Take's previous record.^[2]

Major wins

• Arima Kinen - (1) - Sakura Laurel (1996)
• Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes - (1) - Mejiro Bailey (2000)
• Hanshin Sansai Himba Stakes - (1) - Stinger (1998)
• Japan Dirt Derby - (2) - Success Brocken (1998)
• Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Sprint - (1) - Nishiken Mononofu (2017)
• Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Ladies' Classic - (1) - Ange Desir (2018)
• Kawasaki Kinen - (1) - Field Rouge (2008)
• Kikka Sho - (1) - Seiun Sky (1998)
• Mile Championship - (3) - Company (2009), Taiki Shuttle (1997), Trot Thunder (1995)
• Mile Championship Nambu Hai - (2) - Taiki Sherlock (1997), Utopia (2004)
• NHK Mile Cup - (3) - Aerolithe (2017), Clarity Sky (2015), Symboli Indy (1999)
• Queen Elizabeth II Cup - (1) - Kyoei Tap (1990)
• Satsuki Sho - (1) - Seiun Sky (1998)
• Sprinters Stakes - (1) - Black Hawk (1999)
• Takarazuka Kinen - (2) - Mejiro Ryan (1991), Gold Ship (2014)
• Tenno Sho (Autumn) - (1) - Company (2009)
• Tenno Sho (Spring) - (3) - Gold Ship (2015), Ingrandire (2004), Sakura Laurel (1996)
• Tokyo Yushun - (3) - Danon Decile (2024), One And Only (2014), Logi Universe (2009)
• Victoria Mile - (2) - Buena Vista (2010), Whale Capture (2012)
• Yasuda Kinen - (2) - Black Hawk (2001), Trot Thunder (1996)
• Yushun Himba - (1) - Saint Emilion (2010)

References

1. "横山典家族の前で2000勝「60歳まで現役」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2009-07-19. Archived from the original on 2009-07-22. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
2. Utsumi, Yusuke (2024-05-27). "【日本ダービー】ダノンデサイルが７９０６頭の頂点に 横山典騎手はＧⅠ最年長Ｖ". サンスポZBAT! (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
3. Bayer, Barbara (2024-05-26). "Danon Decile pulls off stunning victory at Japanese Derby". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
4. "横山賀一さん、競馬学校教官に". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
5. "【天皇賞・春】横山和生騎手が狙う偉業 祖父富雄、父典弘に続く親子３代制覇 秋は弟武史が達成". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
6. "横山親子が史上初の親子ワンツースリー". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
7. "横山典弘の近走成績 | 騎手データ". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-27.
8. Yoshihisa, Tanigawa (2009-05-31). "第７６回 東京優駿（日本ダービー）". JRA (in Japanese). Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 2024-05-27. 鞍上・横山典弘騎手にとっては、デビュー24年目、出走15回目にして初めてつかんだダービージョッキーの栄冠。 [For jockey Norihiro Yokoyama, thhis was the first time he earned the title of Derby jockey in his 24 years of career and 15 starts at the race.]
9. "横山典弘騎手、ＪＲＡ通算２０００勝達成！". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2009-07-18. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
10. "Japanese Oaks Ends in a Dead Heat". www.bloodhorse.com. 2010-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
11. "One and Only Bests Favorite in Japanese Derby". www.bloodhorse.com. 2014-06-01. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
12. "横山典 史上３人目のＪＲＡ通算２５００勝を達成". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
13. "【新潟記念】アデイ大外強襲Ｖ！横山典全１０場重賞制覇". Sanspo. 2016-09-04. Archived from the original on 2016-09-05. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
14. "【札幌２歳Ｓ】セットアップが逃げて完勝 横山武史＆典弘騎手の父子ワンツー". サンスポZBAT! (in Japanese). 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
15. 松田直樹. "今週も横山親子ワンツー！父典弘のモリアーナが息子武史のヒップホップソウルを捉える／紫苑Ｓ - 競馬 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-27.
16. "【紫苑Ｓ】モリアーナが重賞初制覇 横山典弘騎手はＪＲＡ最年長重賞勝利記録を記録更新 ｢もともと、能力はある馬｣". UMATOKU (in Japanese). Hochi Shimbun. 2023-09-09. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
17. "【京成杯】ダノンデサイルV！！55歳10カ月の横山典弘、JRA重賞史上最年長勝利 2着は息子の武史". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
18. "京成杯＆日経新春杯はレア記録がズラリ！ 「３度目の親子ワンツー」に「関東騎手３４年ぶり制覇」". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
19. "横山典弘 歴代単独2位のJRA通算2944勝！「まだ2位だからね」岡部幸雄超えに「ホっとしています」". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2024-05-05. Retrieved 2024-05-27.