Keisuke Matsuzaki, Training Assistant for Racehorse Liberty Island, Passes Away After Illness

It has been announced on the official website of the Mitsumasa Nakauchida stable that Keisuke Matsuzaki (49), a training assistant who was in charge of the racehorse Liberty Island, passed away on April 12 this year after battling an illness. This news came approximately two weeks before Liberty Island, a beloved horse that Matsuzaki had cherished and cared for over many years, tragically lost her life in a racing accident in Hong Kong, causing deep sorrow and shock among many horse racing fans.

The context

Liberty Island was an immensely popular and successful Japanese racehorse, a filly who achieved the prestigious Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown in 2023. Her untimely death in a racing accident in Hong Kong in late April 2024 was a significant and heartbreaking event for the Japanese horse racing community. A 'training assistant' (調教助手, chokyo joshu) in Japanese horse racing plays a vital, hands-on role in a racehorse's daily life, similar to a senior groom or exercise rider. They are deeply involved in a horse's care, training, and overall well-being, often forming profound personal bonds. Ritto Training Center (栗東トレーニングセンター) in Shiga Prefecture is one of Japan's two major horse training facilities, where many top racehorses are stabled. Jockey Yuga Kawada is one of Japan's leading riders and frequently partnered with Liberty Island, achieving significant victories.

On social media, numerous messages of remembrance and wishes for reunion have been posted regarding the deep bond between the man and the horse, given that Matsuzaki's passing and Liberty Island's death occurred within just two weeks. Comments include, “Did she, in effect, follow the assistant who passed away?” and “May Matsuzaki and Liberty Island meet in heaven.” There are also speculations about the timing of the announcement of Matsuzaki's death, with some comments suggesting, “Perhaps they deliberately delayed the announcement until summer, leaving a gap.”

Keisuke Matsuzaki was known for his long-standing dedication to horses at Ritto Training Center, particularly his excellent reputation for handling fillies and mares. The anecdote of Liberty Island wearing the handmade 'pom-pom' crafted by Matsuzaki's wife during races is also remembered by many fans as a testament to the deep bond between Matsuzaki and his beloved horse. On X (formerly Twitter), a flood of tributes praising his character and love for horses include comments like, “I always loved Matsuzaki-san's smile when he welcomed Liberty Island back from a race,” and “Even while battling his own illness, he poured immense love into many horses.”

This tragic chain of events has also caused significant shock among those involved in the horse racing world, with many comments empathizing with jockey Yuga Kawada and other stable personnel. Many fans sincerely hope that Matsuzaki and Liberty Island can rest peacefully in heaven.