Tokyo International News Agency

Jockey Norihiro Yokoyama (56) has sparked a massive reaction on social media with his comments regarding Matenro Leo (5-year-old colt), who finished 11th in the recently held G1 Osaka Hai. After the race, Yokoyama commented on the horse, saying, "He ran so poorly I couldn't even tell what he was doing. So, he didn't try his best today." This unusually candid remark has caused surprise and amusement, especially among horse racing fans. Norihiro Yokoyama is known for often praising his mounts in post-race comments, typically saying things like, "The horse tried its best." Therefore, his direct statement, "he didn't try his best," is exceptionally rare, and many users couldn't hide their astonishment, commenting, "Nori-san actually said the horse didn't try?" and "First time I've ever seen this lol." On social media, numerous comments surfaced such as, "He always says the horse tried its best, but today... he d...

On April 5, 2026, the 10th Osaka Hai (GⅠ) held at Hanshin Racecourse saw a brilliant victory by the odds-on favorite, Croire du Nord (colt, 4, Yuichi Shikato stable), electrifying horse racing fans. This triumph marked a historic "father-son conquest," etching its name into horse racing history as the first such achievement in nine years since its sire, the legendary Kitasan Black, won the inaugural Osaka Hai after its G1 upgrade. In the race, Croire du Nord, ridden by jockey Yuichi Kitamura, displayed a powerful performance, overpowering its rivals to secure a commanding win, fending off Meisho Tabaru in second and Danon Decile in third. Joyful reactions flooded social media, with fans exclaiming, "I cried from the emotion!" "Congratulations on the father-son conquest!" and "It's the crystallization of bloodline romance and determination!" Of particular note was the special milestone connecting father and son: Kitasan Black won the first Osa...

The 10th Osaka Hai (G1), a race to crown the spring middle-distance champion, was held on the 5th, with the top-fancied Croissant du Nord claiming victory with a magnificent late surge. This victory marks a historic achievement: the first 'father-son triumph' in the Osaka Hai since its upgrade to a G1 race, with his sire, the legendary Kitasan Black, having won it in 2017, sending horse racing fans into a frenzy. Piloted by jockey Yuichi Kitamura, Croissant du Nord (colt, 4) secured a good position in the mid-pack after a strong start. In the final straight, he powerfully extended, overtaking the front-running Meisho Tabaru to cross the finish line with a 3/4-length advantage. This brought his career record to 6 wins from 9 starts, marking his third G1 victory following the Hopeful Stakes and the Japanese Derby. His overwhelming strength prompted a flurry of praise on social media, with comments like "Too strong!" and "Proof of the strongest active horse!" T...

Jockey camera footage featuring Yuichi Kitamura, who rode Croix du Nord to victory in the 2026 Osaka Hai (G1), and Ryusei Sakai, who rode Danon Decile, has been released and is generating a massive buzz on social media. Horse racing fans are deeply impressed by the powerful, jockey's-eye-view footage, which was previously unavailable, and are marveling at its realism and the jockeys' exceptional skill. Particular attention has been drawn to the footage from Yuichi Kitamura, the jockey of the winning horse, Croix du Nord. The exhilarating sensation of accelerating past the front-running Meisho Tabaru in the final stages of the race, the clear blue sky beyond the finish line, his conversation with jockey Yutaka Take, and Kitamura's response to 'Yuichi calls' brought many fans to tears. Kitamura himself commented, 'I'll cry no matter what I say,' highlighting the profound emotion of the moment. His professionalism, calmly tending to the horse while cherishi...