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SARGA.CO—Born into a humble family in Tondano, Jemmy Runtu grew up with no inkling of becoming a horse racing jockey. However, his love for sports and an encounter with the world of horse racing led him to the prestigious Triple Crown title, an achievement only the best jockeys can attain.

As the youngest of four siblings, Jemmy Runtu grew up in a simple family. His father was a retired teacher, and his mother was a housewife.

Although not involved in the world of horse racing, their family owned a horse-drawn carriage horse, which meant Jemmy was accustomed to interacting with horses since he was a child, even if they were not racehorses.

Young Jemmy was also known for his love of sports, especially swimming and running. It was from there that he got the nickname “Kilat” because his running speed outpaced his peers. That nickname still sticks with him today.

"Many people already know the name 'Kilat'. From Manado to Java, they know that name," Jemmy revealed.

Even though he was familiar with horses from a young age, Jemmy never imagined himself becoming a jockey, especially since his family had no background in the racing world at all.

Since then, Jemmy Runtu diligently learned to control racehorses during his busy schedule at the stable.

His interest grew stronger, especially since Jemmy was used to watching local horse racing tournaments with his friends from his hometown. That experience became a great motivator for him to truly pursue the world of horse racing.

His first time riding a racehorse was in Tompaso at the age of 18. At that time, he was controlling Kusuma Bangsa, an accomplished racehorse from Tompaso.

Although he felt tense having to control a horse at high speed, the experience became an unforgettable and proud moment in the early stages of his career.

With this stable, Jemmy recorded victories in various prestigious horse racing competitions, solidifying his reputation as a reliable jockey.

In 2024, he won first place at the PON XXI Aceh-Sumut Class A 2,200-meter race, first place at Kejuaraan Nasional Pacuan Kuda Seri 01 Indonesia Derby for the 3-year-old A/B class 2,000-meter race, as well as two first-place titles at Kejuaraan Nasional Ke-58 Pacuan Kuda PORDASI in the prestigious Open Class A Star of Stars 2,200-meter race and Super Sprint Class A 1,300-meter race.

His achievements continued in 2025 with a second-place finish at the Jateng Derby for the 2-year-old Prime C/D Division I 800-meter race, and a third-place finish in the 4-year-old A/B class 2,000-meter race.

For Jemmy, these achievements were not just personal pride, but also a part of the great responsibility that a jockey holds.

"Especially since there's pressure, we have to win the Derby," he explained.

The peak of his career came when he swept the first-place podium in three prestigious tournament series, including the IHR: Triple Crown Series 1 with a distance of 1,200 meters, IHR: Triple Crown Series 2 with a distance of 1,600 meters, and the IHR: Indonesia Derby with a distance of 2,000 meters, which crowned him the winner of the Triple Crown, a prestigious achievement in the world of Indonesian horse racing.

This achievement did not make Jemmy complacent. For him, a victory is not just personal pride, but also an opportunity to bring honor to the stable he belongs to and to bring pride to his family.

"You can't be a jockey, your body won't get bigger. A jockey has to diet," Jemmy recalled.

However, his strong determination to be independent made him stick to his chosen path as a jockey. Fortunately, both of his parents fully supported his decision.

His wife, Ayu Nastiti, is also often worried. The risk of falling on the track made her suggest that Jemmy switch to becoming a trainer.

Throughout his career, Jemmy has indeed been injured repeatedly. However, his love for the world of horse racing has made him persevere.

"No one knows what fate holds, whatever it is, we just go through it. Maybe I can be a trainer later, when I'm older," he said.

Although his wife rarely wants to watch him directly at the track, Jemmy's victory at the Triple Crown made Ayu so proud.

"Thank you for being such a proud family head," Jemmy said, relaying his wife's message.

For Jemmy, equestrian is not just a new sport, but a means to deepen his bond with horses while enriching his strategy on the track. He also mentioned that a deep understanding of horses is the key to continuously growing as a tough and visionary jockey.

According to Farooq, Jemmy is a jockey who always follows instructions well and shows a high work ethic. His consistency on the track enabled Jemmy to maintain his first-place position in several championships until he finally won the Triple Crown title.

One of the personalities that Farooq admires most is Jemmy’s discipline during training.

"He always does the best, that’s why he also gets the best result," Farooq said.

Besides being disciplined, Jemmy is also known to be friendly. This attitude makes the training process easier, even though Farooq comes from a different country and culture.

Farooq feels that Jemmy knows how to adapt. On the training grounds, Jemmy is professional as a jockey, while outside of training, he can be a warm friend.

For Farooq, the Triple Crown title did not make Jemmy complacent. He sees Jemmy as a person who always wants to keep growing. Farooq is confident that Jemmy’s skills can be honed even further, surpassing his current achievements.

He also has a message for the younger generation who want to pursue horse racing.

"Stay consistent and be willing to learn," he expressed.

Despite this, Jemmy Runtu's love for horse racing does not make him force his child to follow the same path.

For him, everyone has the right to choose their own path, while he remains focused on pursuing his profession wholeheartedly. With consistent discipline, a high work ethic, and a humble attitude, Jemmy has become one of Indonesia's best jockeys.

Starting from local tracks to national championships, he has proven himself to be a person who not only seeks titles but also upholds the legacy of the sport of horse racing. The Triple Crown title is just one piece of evidence that his long journey is still continuing.