Calm and Confident — Yuichi Kitamura Faces the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Without Fear

On October 5, he will head to Longchamp Racecourse with his beloved horse Croix du Nord

On October 5, jockey Yuichi Kitamura (38) will finally take on the pinnacle of the horse racing world—the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris Longchamp Racecourse—with his beloved horse Croix du Nord (a 3-year-old colt). On September 14, they impressively won the prep race, the Prix du Prince d’Orange, and are in excellent form.

In June of this year, Kitamura captured victory in the Japanese Derby aboard Crois du Nord, finally becoming a Derby jockey. It was a triumph on a stage that many jockeys dream of, but after the race, he said:

“More than me becoming a Derby jockey, what makes me happiest is that Crois du Nord became a Derby winner. I’m most glad that I was able to give him the best escort to get there.”

It was the stage of glory he had finally reached after a long and arduous rehabilitation.

The year after his remarkable streak with the great mare Chrono Genesis came a falling accident

After graduating from junior high school, Kitamura failed the entrance exam for the jockey training school once. However, he didn’t give up — while attending a regular high school, he tried again and earned his place.

“Once I decided I wanted to become a jockey, giving up was never an option. I had made that decision myself, so I felt strongly that I had to see it through no matter what.” (Kitamura)

He debuted in 2006, but his career was far from smooth sailing. The turning point came when he met the great mare Chrono Genesis. In 2019, he guided her to her first GⅠ victory in the Shuka Sho, and from there, his winning streak began. In 2020, he captured major titles one after another — the Takarazuka Kinen and the Arima Kinen — and quickly rose to join the ranks of top jockeys.

However, in May 2021, he suffered a fall during a race. The diagnosis revealed fractures in three cervical vertebrae, seven spinal bones, and his right shoulder blade — an injury so severe that his return to racing was in doubt.

“I had broken my arm and ankle in previous falls, but this time, my neck and spine were broken, and I couldn’t move at all. It felt like, ‘What on earth just happened?’ And the pain was so intense, I didn’t even have room to think about anything else.”

After nearly a year of rehabilitation, he returned to the turf, but offers to ride strong horses dwindled, and he endured a long stretch without victories.

“Of course, it was tough. I was given opportunities to ride, yet I couldn’t deliver results. And when you don’t produce results, you stop getting rides, especially on good horses. But that’s only natural. I told myself I just had to quietly keep doing what needed to be done — think about what it takes to win, take action, and keep building up those small efforts, step by step.”

An unexpected answer came when he was asked about the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

His sincere attitude of never refusing a riding offer, no matter the race, gradually began to bear fruit. And three years after returning to the turf, this June, he finally reached the pinnacle for a jockey — winning the Japanese Derby. After the race, many fellow jockeys rushed over to congratulate him, knowing well the hardships he had endured after his devastating injury.

“Of course, I was happy to win the Derby, but I didn’t feel nervous just because it was the Derby, nor did I lose sleep before the race. I just thought, as long as I do what needs to be done, that’s enough.”

What Kitamura values most is how complete and high-quality his performance is.

“There are actually many races I was happier to win than the Derby. Even in a maiden race, if I can deliver a flawless ride, I feel a sense of accomplishment. The happiest moment is when I can move the horse exactly as I want — one hundred percent — and the race unfolds exactly as I had anticipated.”

Even when facing the world’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, he shows no sign of pressure.

“Of course, I want to win since I’m entering the race, but I’m not thinking of doing anything special just because it’s the Arc. I don’t feel any pressure, and I haven’t even decided on my riding strategy yet. To win, everything has to align perfectly. If I have time to imagine how I’ll win, I’d rather spend it training.”

Due to the lingering effects of his severe injury, he still has some limitations in movements like stretching or twisting his body. However, Kitamura has overcome this handicap by adjusting his riding style.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — a race that even legends like Yutaka Take and many other Japanese jockeys have challenged, only to be stopped by its towering wall. This will mark the 29th attempt by a Japanese jockey since the nation’s first challenge. Will the man of perseverance, Kitamura, finally seize that long-awaited glory?

From the October 3 and 10, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”