Yutaka Take Claims 5,000th Career Victory at Hakodate on July 13

Yutaka Take secured his 5,000th career victory on July 13 at Hakodate Racecourse, riding Himino Etoile to win the seventh race at the northern Japanese track. The 57-year-old jockey joined an elite tier of riders in global thoroughbred racing, cementing his legacy with a milestone that spans four decades.

Take won his landmark race aboard the 4-year-old filly Himino Etoile in the seventh event at Hakodate, a JRA-sanctioned race. His total includes 4,669 wins under the Japan Racing Association, 212 from local government races in Japan, and 119 overseas victories. He celebrated the moment quietly, calling it an emotional culmination of relentless effort across continents and decades.

Debuting in 1987, Take quickly rose through the ranks, capturing his first Grade 1 win in 1988 aboard Super Creek in the Kikuka Sho. He later guided Oguri Cap to victory in the 1990 Arima Kinen, the legendary horse’s final race. His crowning achievement came in 2005 when he piloted Deep Impact to the Japanese Triple Crown, making the colt only the second undefeated horse to accomplish the feat.

Few jockeys in history have reached five thousand wins. Take’s consistency, precision, and adaptability across domestic and international circuits set him apart. His brother Koshiro, now a trainer, and his late father Kunihiko, a former jockey and trainer, shaped his path. This win isn’t just a number-it’s proof of endurance in a sport where careers often end before the 3,000-win mark.

At 57, Take shows no signs of slowing. He continues to ride regularly for top stables and remains a fixture in Japan’s major races. With over 4,600 JRA wins alone, he holds the record for most victories under the association’s banner. His next target? Possibly the all-time global win record, currently held by a handful of riders outside Japan. For now, he rides on-quietly, steadily, and still winning.