(born March 15, 1969 in

Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...

) is a

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

. A legend in Japan, Yutaka Take made his riding debut in 1987 and currently holds seven all-time records in his native country. Take has won at least one Grade 1 races for 23 straight years until 2010 and a graded stakes race for 36 consecutive years. Take has also shown his abilities abroad. He has 114 wins to his credit in eight countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. A sampling of his international victories includes Group 1 wins in the Prix d'Ispahan (France) and Hong Kong Cup (Hong Kong), two races timed by Longines, the July Cup (England) and Dubai Duty Free Stakes (UAE).

Early life

Yutaka was born in Kyoto on March 15, 1969 to Kunihiko and Yoko Take. Kunihiko was also a notable jockey nicknamed "The wizard of the turf" during his prime. Take would ultimately follow his father's footsteps, and make his debut as a jockey in 1987.

Career

In 1987 he became the first rookie to ride 69 winners in one season. In the following year he became the youngest jockey to achieve 100 wins and won the GI race. Two years later, he was named the overall champion jockey by the JRA, and Take held that title continuously until 1999, with the exception of 1991. In 2005 he achieved the feat of winning the Japanese

Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, often shortened to Triple Crown, is a series of horse races for Thoroughbreds, often restricted to three-year-olds. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplis ...

(

Satsuki Sho Satsuki is a traditional Japanese name for the month of . It is commonly used as a feminine given name and, more rarely, as a surname or a masculine name. Possible spellings Satsuki can be spelled using different ''kanji'' characters and can mean: ...

Tokyo Yushun Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

, Kikuka Sho) with Deep Impact, which is the second undefeated horse that has won the classic. That same year, Take also achieved 212 victories in total, which would be the most victories any jockey has had in a single year. On March 25, 2007, Yutaka Take won the

Takamatsunomiya Kinen The is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) at Chukyo Racecourse in late March. The forerunner of this race was the . It was started ...

Chukyo Racecourse is located in Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. It is used for horse racing. It was built in 1994. It has a capacity of 58,400. It has 8,795 seats. Physical attributes Chukyo Racecourse has a grass courses, a dirt course, and a jump course. The turf's m ...

aboard Suzuka Phoenix. The win gave Take a Group One victory for the 20th consecutive racing season. Also in 2007, Take won his fourth Japan Cup Dirt in seven years. Yutaka Take was the recipient of the 2017 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit, which recognizes distinguished horsemen and horsewomen for lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing. He was the first jockey to win that award. Take has also made appearances in equine related TV shows and commercials over the years, including a collaboration ad between the JRA and ''

Neon Genesis Evangelion , also known simply as ''Evangelion'' or ''Eva'', is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996. ''Evangelion' ...

''; as well as several commercials of ''

Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a multimedia franchise created by Cygames. A mobile game for iOS and Android was scheduled to debut in late 2018 and then delayed to February 2021. A 13-episode anime television series adaptation by P.A. Works aired from April ...

'', of which Take has also made a cameo appearance in the anime adaptation.

Personal life

Aside from Kunihiko, the Take family is known as a horseracing family. Most notably, Yutaka's brother, Koshiro, was also a jockey before transitioning to a trainer. In 1995, Yutaka married , a former

tarento Television personalities in Japan, known as in Japanese, are celebrities who regularly appear in mass media in Japan, especially as panelists on variety shows. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, bankable stars in America were described as "tal ...

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

* July Cup - (1) - '' Agnes World (2000)'' ----

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Prix d'Ispahan The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres (about 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs), and ...

- (1) - ''

A Shin Hikari A Shin Hikari (Japanese エイシンヒカリ, foaled 3 May 2011) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He began his racing career as a three-year-old in 2014 when he won his first five races including the Listed Ireland Trophy. In the following ...

(2016)'' *

Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,000 metres (about 5 furlongs), ...

- (2) - ''Agnes World (1999), Imperial Beauty (2001)'' *

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is sc ...

- (1) - ''Ski Paradise (1994)'' *

Prix Maurice de Gheest The Prix Maurice de Gheest is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,300 metres (about 6½ furlongs), and it is sch ...

- (1) - ''Seeking the Pearl (1998)'' ----

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

Hong Kong Cup The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres (about miles or 10 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year ...

- (1) - ''A Shin Hikari (2015)'' *

Hong Kong Vase The Hong Kong Vase is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (about miles or 12 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year ...

- (1) - '' Stay Gold (2001)'' ----

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

* Arima Kinen - (3) - ''

Oguri Cap Oguri Cap ( Japanese : オグリキャップ, 27 March 1985 – 3 July 2010) was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse, sired by Dancing Cap. Oguri Cap was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1991. Racing career In May 198 ...

(1990), Deep Impact (2006), Kitasan Black (2017)'' *

Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes The Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (朝日杯フューチュリティステークス) is a one mile turf stakes race for thoroughbred colts two years old. It is considered the ''de facto'' year-end championship for Japanese thoroughbred racing in the t ...

- (1) - ''

Do Deuce Do Deuce (Japanese: ドウデュース, foaled 7 May 2019) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the best two-year-old colt in Japan in 2021 when he was undefeated in three races including the Ivy Stakes and the Asahi Hai Futurity Stake ...

(2021) * Derby Grand Prix - (2) - ''

Gold Allure Gold Allure (Japanese: ゴールドアリュール, foaled March 3, 1999 – February 18, 2017) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 2003 February Stakes. Career Gold Allure's first race was on November 11, 2001, at Kyoto ...

(2002),

Kane Hekili Kane Hekili (February 26, 2002 -May 25, 2016) was a Thoroughbred racehorse named after "The Thunder God" in Hawaiian mythology. In 2005 and 2006 he won four Grade 1 races on dirt in Japan and finished fourth to Electrocutionist in the 2006 Duba ...

(2005)'' *

February Stakes The is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 8 furlongs) at Tokyo Racecourse in late February. It was first run in 1984 as February Handicap, and wa ...

- (5) - ''

(2003),

(2006), Vermillion (2007), Copano Rickey (2015), Inti (2019)'' * Hanshin Sansai Himba Stakes - (1) - ''Yamanin Paradise (1994)'' * Japan Breeding farm's Cup Classic - (8) - ''Time Paradox (2005), Vermillion (2007 & 2008 & 2009), Smart Falcon (2010 & 2011), Copano Rickey (2015), Awardee (2016)'' * Japan Breeding farm's Cup Sprint - (1) - ''Meiner Select (2004)'' *

Japan Cup The is one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan. It is contested on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters (about miles) run under weight for age conditions with ...

- (4) - ''

Special Week Special Week ( ja, スペシャルウィーク, link=no, 2 May 1995 – 27 April 2018) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Between 1997 and 1999 he won ten of his seventeen races including four at Grade I level. After winning his onl ...

(1998), Deep Impact (2006), Rose Kingdom (2010), Kitasan Black (2016)'' *

Japan Cup Dirt The Champions Cup ( JPN G-1, formerly the ''Japan Cup Dirt'' until 2013) is a thoroughbred horse race contested in Japan in early December. It is run for three-year-olds and older at a distance of 1,800 meters. In recent years, the race has follow ...

- (4) - ''Kurofune (2001), Time Paradox (2004),

(2005), Vermillion (2007)'' *

Japan Dirt Derby The is a Japanese Domestic Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a distance of 2,000 metres (approximately 1 mile 2 furlongs) at the Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa, Tokyo in late July. It was ...

- (4) - ''

(2002), Big Wolf (2003),

(2005), Notturno（2022）'' *

Kawasaki Kinen The Kawasaki Kinen (Kawasaki Memorial) (川崎記念) is a Japanese thoroughbred horse race on dirt track for horses aged four years or older. It was graded as a domestic grade 1 race in 1998. It is held in January, so it is the first (domestic) g ...

- (3) - ''Time Paradox (2005), Vermillion (2010), Smart Falcon (2012)'' *

Kashiwa Kinen The is a Japanese thoroughbred horse race run on dirt track for four years old and above. It is run over a distance of 1,600 meters (about 8 furlongs) at Funabashi Racecourse during the period known as Golden Week from the end of April to the ...

- (2) - ''Copano Rickey (2016 & 2017)'' * Kikuka Shō - (4) - ''Super Creek (1988),

Dance in the Dark "Dance in the Dark" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), ''The Fame Monster'' (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, ''The Fame'' (2008). It is about a woman who prefers to have sex in the dark as ...

(1996), Air Shakur (2000), Deep Impact (2005),World Premiere (2019)'' *

Mile Championship The Mile Championship is an Graded stakes race, International Grade I Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) on the turf at Kyoto Ra ...

- (2) - ''Sadamu Patek (2012), Tosen Ra (2013)'' * Mile Championship Nambu Hai - (1) - ''Nihon Pillow Jupiter (1999)'' *

NHK Mile Cup The NHK Mile Cup () is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately one mile) on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse in May. The NHK Mile Cup is sponsored b ...

- (3) - ''Seeking the Pearl (1997), Kurofune (2001), Logic (2006)'' *

Oka Sho The is a Japanese Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan. The race is restricted to three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies and is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) at the Hanshin Racecourse, Takarazuka, Hyōgo in April. It was ...

- (5) - ''Shadai Kagura (1989), Vega (1993), Oguri Roman (1994), Phalaenopsis (1998), Dance in the Mood (2004)'' *

Osaka Hai is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2 ...

- (1) - ''Kitasan Black (2017)'' *

Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (''Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup'' until 2012) is an Graded stakes race, International Grade 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbred Filly, fillies and mar ...

- (4) - ''To the Victory (2001), Fine Motion (2002), Admire Groove (2003 & 2004)'' *

Satsuki Shō The is a Japanese Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a distance of 2,000 metres (approximately mile) at the Nakayama Racecourse, Funabashi, Chiba, in April. It was first run in 1939 a ...

- (3) - ''Narita Taishin (1993), Air Shakur (2000), Deep Impact (2005)'' *

Shuka Sho Shuka ( sa, शुक , also Shukadeva ) is a rishi (sage) in Hinduism. He is the son of the sage Vyasa and the main narrator of the scripture ''Bhagavata Purana''. Most of the ''Bhagavata Purana'' consists of Shuka reciting the story to the k ...

- (3) - ''Phalaenopsis (1998), Fine Motion (2002), Air Messiah (2005)'' *

Sprinters Stakes The is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan open to thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) at Nakayama Racecourse, and it takes place annually in late September or earl ...

- (2) - ''Bamboo Memory (1990), Believe (2002)'' *

- (2) - ''Admire Max (2005), Suzuka Phoenix (2007)'' *

Takarazuka Kinen The Takarazuka Kinen (宝塚記念) is a Conditions races, Grade I Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds where they run over a distance of 2,200 metres (approximately miles) at Hanshin Race ...

- (4) - ''Inari One (1989),

Mejiro McQueen Mejiro McQueen (Japanese : メジロマックイーン, April 3, 1987 - April 3, 2006) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a late-maturing horse who did not emerge as a top-class performer until the autumn of his three-year-o ...

(1993), Marvelous Sunday (1997), Deep Impact (2006)'' *

Teio Sho The Teio Sho (帝王賞) is a Japanese domestic Grade 1 race. This race began in 1978 as a spring championship race of southern Kanto region horseracing. It was later opened to JRA horses in 1986. Then, there were few opportunities for JRA and NA ...

- (5) - ''Time Paradox (2005), Vermillion (2009), Smart Falcon (2011), Wonder Acute (2014), Copano Rickey (2016)'' *

Tenno Sho The is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade I races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Gra ...

Autumn - (6) - ''Super Creek (1989),

Air Groove Air Groove (in Japanese: エアグルーヴ, foaled April 6th, 1993 ~ April 23rd, 2013) is a Japanese racehorse and the winner of the 1996 Yushun Himba. Career Air Groove's first race was on October 29, 1995, at the Icho Stakes, where she came ...

(1997), Special Week (1999),

Meisho Samson Meisho Samson (Japanese : メイショウサムソン, March 7, 2003 - ) is a Japanese racehorse which won the Tokyo Yūshun and Satsuki Sho in 2006, and the Tenno Sho The is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once i ...

(2007),

Vodka Vodka ( pl, wódka , russian: водка , sv, vodka ) is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage. Different varieties originated in Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impuritie ...

(2008), Kitasan Black (2017)'' *

Spring - (8) - ''Inari One (1989), Super Creek (1990), Mejiro McQueen (1991 & 1992), Special Week (1999), Deep Impact (2006), Kitasan Black(2016 & 2017)'' *

Tokyo Daishōten The Tokyo Daishōten (東京大賞典) is a Japanese thoroughbred horse race on dirt track for three years old and above. It is run over a distance of 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs) at Ōi Racecourse in the Shinagawa, Tokyo in the end of the y ...

- (5) - ''

(2002), Star King Man (2003), Vermillion (2007), Smart Falcon (2010 & 2011)'' *

Tokyo Yūshun Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.4 ...

- (6) - ''Special Week (1998),

Admire Vega Admire Vega, ( ja, アドマイヤベガ, link=no, 12 March 1996 – 29 October 2004) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1998 he won two of his three races including the Grade III Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Sta ...

(1999), Tanino Gimlet (2002), Deep Impact (2005),

Kizuna is a Japanese word meaning "bond". It may also refer to: Music * ''Kizuna'' (album), a 2022 album by JO1 * "Kizuna" (Aya Matsuura song) * "Kizuna" (Aya Ueto song) * "Kizuna" (Orange Range song) * "Kizuna", a song from the anime Mermaid Melody Pich ...

(2013),

(2022)'' *

Victoria Mile The Victoria Mile () is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for four-year-old and above thoroughbred fillies and mares run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse in May. Winners See also * Horse ...

- (1) - ''Vodka (2009)'' *

Yasuda Kinen The Yasuda Kinen (English: Yasuda Memorial, Japanese and Chinese language: 安田記念) is a Japanese International Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at the Tokyo Racecourse in Tokyo. Raced annually each June, the Yasuda Kinen is run at a di ...

- (3) - ''Oguri Cap (1990), Heart Lake (1995), Vodka (2009)'' *

Yushun Himba The , also known as the is a Japanese Grade 1 flat horse race for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately 1 mile 4 furlongs) at the Tokyo Racecourse, Fuchū, Tokyo in May. History It was first run ...

- (3) - ''Vega (1993),

Dance Partner Dance Partner, (Japanese: ダンスパートナー, foaled 25 May 1992) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. From the first crop of foals sired by Sunday Silence she won four of her twenty-five races and finished second nine time ...

(1995),

(1996)'' *

Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (全日本2歳優駿) is an internationally listed, Domestic Grade 1 flat horse race Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (o ...

- (1) - ''Admire Hope (2003)'' ----

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

Dubai Sheema Classic The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately miles; 2410 metres since 2010) on the turf track a ...

- (1) - '' Stay Gold (2001)'' *

Dubai Duty Free Stakes The Dubai Turf, known as Dubai Duty Free 1996 to 2014. is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,800 metres (1 mile 1 furlong) on the turf at Meydan Racecourse in Du ...

- (1) - ''

Admire Moon ; born February 23, 2003) is a Japanese racehorse who won the 2007 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, Takarazuka Kinen and Japan Cup. Background Admire Moon was foaled on February 23rd, 2003 at Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido, Japan. He was bred by ...

(2007)''

Year-end charts in the United States

References

External links

Yutaka Take - NTRA
{{DEFAULTSORT:Take, Yutaka 1969 births Living people Japanese jockeys People from Shiga Prefecture