2018 News

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Winners of the 2017 JRA Awards announced

On Jan. 9, Kitasan Black was announced as the Japan Racing Association’s Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year. Kitasan Black was also awarded the Best Older Colt or Horse award. In the voting for the Horse of the Year award, Kitasan Black received 287 votes out of 290.

The Horse of the Year title is the highest honor given to JRA-registered race horses and is selected by the Horse of the Year Selection Committee represented by journalists of various dailies and magazines.

The JRA Awards ceremony will be held on January 29.

Note: All information, including ages and race performances, are as of December 31, 2017, unless otherwise indicated.

■RACEHORSES

Kitasan Black(JPN)

Video
Osaka Hai (G1 - English)
Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1 - English)
Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1 - English)
Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) (G1 - English)

2017 Horse of the Year Connection Comments

Owner: Ono Shoji (Mr. Saburo Kitajima)
“The retirement ceremony for Kitasan Black was held just the other day, and in midst of the sadness, I am extremely thrilled to hear that my horse has been recognized with the prestigious Horse of the Year award for the second straight year. I am sure Kitasan Black, who will be pursuing his new endeavors, is also delighted to hear this news. Looking back, the three years with him was short, but I want express my thanks to not only those in the racing industry, but also to all the racing fans who rooted for him during his career. Thank you very much.”

Trainer: Hisashi Shimizu
“I am thrilled to have been given the Horse of the Year honor for two consecutive years. My hat goes off to Kitasan Black, who really gave it his best.”

Jockey: Yutaka Take
“Having been selected Horse of the Year for two straight years is something special. It was truly an honor to be his partner.”

Best Two-Year-Old Colt:

Danon Premium(JPN)

Video
Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1 - English)

Best Two-Year-Old Filly:

Lucky Lilac(JPN)

Video
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1 - English)

Best Three-Year-Old Colt:

Rey de Oro(JPN)

Video
Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1 - English)

Best Three-Year-Old Filly:

Soul Stirring(JPN)

Video
Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1 - English)

Best Older Filly or Mare:

Vivlos(JPN)

Video
Dubai Turf (G1)

Best Sprinter or Miler:

Red Falx(JPN)

Video
Sprinters Stakes (G1 - English)

Best Dirt Horse:

Gold Dream(JPN)

Video
February Stakes (G1 - English)
Champions Cup (G1 - English)

Best Steeplechase Horse:

Oju Chosan(JPN)

Video
Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1)
Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1)

■TRAINERS & JOCKEYS

*Best Trainer (races won): Yasutoshi Ikee (63 wins)

*Best Trainer (winning average): Mitsumasa Nakauchida (0.214)

*Best Trainer (money earned): Yasutoshi Ikee (1,848,488,900 Yen)

*Best Trainer (training technique): Noriyuki Hori

JRA Best Jockey (races won): Christophe Lemaire (199 wins)

JRA Best Jockey (winning average): Mirco Demuro (0.257%)

JRA Best Jockey (money earned): Christophe Lemaire (4,146,220,000 Yen)

**MVJ (Most Valuable Jockey): Christophe Lemaire (51 points)

Best Steeplechase Jockey: Shinichi Ishigami

Best Jockey (newcomer): N/A

*Trainers’ figures include National Association of Racing (NAR; Racing by Local Governments) and overseas race results.

**The MVJ is determined by points allotted a jockey for his or her ranking in four different categories for designated JRA, NAR and overseas races. The four categories are “number of wins,” “win average,” “earnings,” and “number of rides for the year.” The MVJ award is bestowed upon the jockey with the highest total points.

■2017 JRA Equine Cultural Award

Winner: "Sekai de Ichiban Utsukushii Uma no Zukan" (The Majesty of the Horse: An Illustrated History) (book)

Recipient: Tamsin Pickeral (Author),‎ Astrid Harrison (Photographer),‎ Fumi Kawagishi (Translator), X-Knowledge Co.,Ltd. (Publisher)

(Note)
The JRA Equine Cultural Award and Award of Merit recognize those persons (or organizations) that have contributed to the development of equine culture through such mediums as literature, critique, art, film and music, photography and performance.

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Results of the 2017 JRA Awards (Total Votes: 290)

Horse of the Year

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Kitasan Black(JPN)	287
2	Oju Chosan(JPN)	3
Total		290

Best Two-Year-Old Colt

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Danon Premium(JPN)	275
2	Time Flyer(JPN)	13
3	Le Vent Se Leve(JPN)	1
3	Wagnerian(JPN)	1
Total		290

Best Two-Year-Old Filly

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Lucky Lilac(JPN)	290
Total		290

Best Three-Year-Old Colt

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Rey de Oro(JPN)	289
2	Kiseki(JPN)	1
Total		290

Best Three-Year-Old Filly

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Soul Stirring(JPN)	162
2	Mozu Katchan(JPN)	120
3	Aerolithe(JPN)	4
4	Deirdre(JPN)	3
5	Reine Minoru(JPN)	1
Total		290

Best Older Colt or Horse

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Kitasan Black(JPN)	290
Total		290

Best Older Filly or Mare

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Vivlos(JPN)	194
2	Admire Lead(JPN)	49
3	None	42
4	Crocosmia(JPN)	2
4	Mikki Queen(JPN)	2
6	Let's Go Donki(JPN)	1
Total		290

Best Sprinter or Miler

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Red Falx(JPN)	264
2	Persian Knight(JPN)	16
3	None	6
4	Admire Lead(JPN)	2
5	Isla Bonita(JPN)	1
5	Seiun Kosei(JPN)	1
Total		290

Best Dirt Horse

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Gold Dream(JPN)	261
2	Copano Rickey(JPN)	28
3	Sound True(JPN)	1
Total		290

Best Steeplechase Horse

Place	Horse	Votes
1	Oju Chosan(JPN)	289
2	None	1
Total		290