Legendary Jockey Yutaka Take Achieves Historic 5,000th Career Victory

On July 12, 2026, a monumental feat was etched into the history of Japanese horse racing during the 7th race at Hakodate Racecourse (3yo & up, 1-Win Class, 1,700m dirt). The race favorite, Himino Etoile, clinched the victory after a thrilling battle at the wire. With this win, the legendary jockey Yutaka Take achieved an unprecedented milestone of 5,000 career victories across JRA, local, and overseas races.

The race featured a heart-pounding stretch run where three horses fiercely battled to the finish. Although Himino Etoile seemed to be in a tough spot coming off the fourth turn, she responded tenaciously to Take’s urging and unleashed a powerful late drive to snatch the win in the final strides. As the official winning time was posted, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the fans gathered near the unsaddling area.

Following his historic achievement, Yutaka Take joked with a smile, "I had been finishing second a lot lately, so it felt like everyone was trying to stop me!" before adding, "But that’s fair racing," which delighted the crowd. Now in his 40th year since his debut, Take's 5,000 wins consist of 4,669 JRA wins, 212 local (NAR) wins, and 119 overseas wins. As the legendary JRA-affiliated jockey continues to extend his overwhelming record for the most wins in history, social media was flooded with congratulatory messages such as, "The Legend is just incredible," and "I hope he stays safe from injuries and keeps going."

Attention has also turned to Himino Etoile, the partner horse for this memorable 5,000th victory. The filly, who traces her lineage back to the famous mare Itto as her fourth dam, celebrated a joyful second career win. Since she is the only horse registered under her owner in the JRA, fans expressed their excitement, commenting, "The owner has unbelievable luck!" and "I'm so thrilled it was Himino Etoile who helped him reach this milestone," making it a historic day wrapped in double joy.

The Context

Yutaka Take is widely regarded as the most successful and influential jockey in Japanese racing history. Since his debut in 1987, he has been the face of the sport, breaking countless records and helping popularize horse racing in Japan. In Japanese horse racing, there is a distinction between the JRA (Japan Racing Association), which operates the highly prestigious national-level races, and local racing (NAR), which is run by local governments. Achieving 5,000 wins across the JRA, NAR, and international stages is an unprecedented feat of longevity and skill. Furthermore, Himino Etoile's pedigree connects to Itto, a champion mare of the 1970s who became one of the foundation mares of Japanese breeding, adding a layer of historical romance to this landmark victory.

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