Legendary Japanese jockey Yutaka Take is the recipient of this year's Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit, which honours distinguished personalities for their lifelong contributions to the world of horse racing. Past recipients include Jim Bolger, Alec Head, Seth Hancock, Marcel Zarour Atanacio and the Romanet family.
Take was a standout right from the start of his riding career, winning the champion apprentice title in 1987 and becoming champion jockey two years later. He would go on to take that title each year but one between then and 1999. In a country with considerably fewer Group 1 opportunities, Take has won 74 times at that level and has won at least one Group 1 each year for 23 straight years. He holds the Japanese record for most wins in a year with 212. Take is best known for his association with the Japanese Triple Crown winner and champion sire Deep Impact (Jpn), and his Group 1 wins abroad include the G1 Prix d'Ispahan, Hong Kong Cup, July Cup and Dubai Duty Free. Take is the regular rider of Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}), last year's Japan Cup winner and Horse of the Year who lines up in Sunday's G1 Arima Kinen.
Louis Romanet, IFHA Chairman, said, “Yutaka Take has demonstrated his incredible skills not only in Japan but around the world, and his consistency at the top levels of racing is evident in the number of Group 1 races he has won as well as participated in. Jockeys like Mr. Take are special ambassadors for our industry, and it's with great esteem that we honor him with the 2017 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit for his great contribution and influence on the sport of horse racing.”
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