Joe Kinsey
Ever seen a jockey cross the finish line before the horse he’s supposed to be riding? Now you have. It happened Tuesday at Himeji Racecourse where 62-year-old Shoichi Kawahara and his ride, Vintage Pearl, finished 11th and turned in a wild video in the process.
According to Graham Pavey, who tracks the Japanese horseracing industry from Tokyo, Kawahara finished out his duties Tuesday, came back to work Wednesday, won the feature and appears to be just fine following his big fall.
62yo veteran jockey Shoichi Kawahara and 6yo mare VINTAGE PEARL were officially placed 11th in Race 6 at Himeji on March 2. Fortunately both uninjured.
Mr. Kawahara rode out the card and is riding today and won the main race yesterday #tough pic.twitter.com/hTypWptO4V
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) March 4, 2021
Now for the news you’ve been waiting for. This Shoichi guy racked up his 5,500th career win nearly a year ago. At that point in his long career, according to Pavey, Shoichi had made over 31,000 career starts.
If falling off a horse at the finish line can’t stop him, it’s hard to believe he’s ever going to hang up his jockey outfit. The guy is clearly an absolute warrior.
5500th winner!
61yo NAR council circuit hero Shoichi Kawahara notched up win 5500 at Sonoda today in Race 9 on 3f 1. FASCINOSA.
Ride number 31,154 in a career that commenced on April 28 1976. Puts him into 4th overall for most wins on the NAR #stayerpic.twitter.com/A6upKZTZ21
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) April 22, 2020
THAT is amazing. I’m sore as hell after a ride, and this guy is doing it at full speed. Hero 🙂
Did they stop the clock when the jockey crossed or when the horse crossed?
I believe the rule is the horse and not the jockey. Also in usa rider needs to be on the horse otherwise doesn’t count.