Indonesia
English
Follow
SARGA.CO – Even as horse racing enjoys a surge in popularity in Japan—boosted by the success of the hit game and anime Uma Musume, which reimagines legendary racehorses as “horse girls”—the Japan Racing Association (JRA) will see a stunning first in 2026: not a single new jockey will make a professional debut. This marks the first time in over four decades that such a situation has occurred.
Since its founding in 1982, the JRA Horse Racing School in Shiroi, Chiba Prefecture, has been the sole gateway to becoming a professional jockey. The rigorous three-year program teaches not only riding techniques and safety, but also racing laws and ethics that jockeys must uphold.
Competition is fierce: in 2023, 192 applicants applied, but only seven were admitted. These students were expected to debut in spring 2026.
Instead, four dropped out, while the remaining three—though still enrolled—were forced to repeat an entire year. JRA did not name those who left, but cited two main stumbling blocks.
Jockeys are required to maintain exceptionally strict weight standards, often pushing their physical and mental limits. Some trainees simply failed to meet the benchmark.
Smartphone Rule Violations
While digital devices are central to modern life, JRA enforces strict rules on their use—especially the night before a race. All students must check into the dormitory by 9:00 PM, and phone use is banned until racing ends the following evening.
Rule violations have had major consequences in the past. In 2024, rising star Nanako Fujita was forced into early retirement after breaking the no-phone rule—even though she held the record as JRA’s most successful female jockey.
Since the school’s founding, JRA has consistently graduated at least three jockeys per year. If the three repeating students succeed, they will debut no earlier than spring 2027. Until then, the JRA must rely entirely on its current roster, with no injection of new talent for a full season. (Source: soranews24.com)
Install SARGA.CO News
sarga.co
Rekomendasi