‘Great Honour’ as Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida Become Jockey Club Members

[Wandering Eyes]

TOKYO, JAPAN — In a special ceremony at Tokyo racecourse prior to the 45th running of the Japan Cup, history was made when brothers Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida became the first Japanese members of the Jockey Club.

The major owner-breeders and owners respectively of Shadai Farm and Northern Farm, Teruya, 78, and Katsumi, 77, were presented with lapel badges by senior steward Baroness Dido Harding to mark their honorary membership. Baroness Harding was joined in Tokyo by Jockey Club CEO Jim Mullen, assistant racing and international director Matthew Woolston, and the Jockey Club's international ambassador Brian Finch.

In his introduction to the ceremony, Woolston said, “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome Mr Teruya Yoshida and Mr Katsumi Yoshida as honorary members of the Jockey Club.

“We thank you for your contribution to horseracing and for the cooperation between the Japanese and British horseracing industries.”

Addressing the Yoshida brothers, Baroness Harding said, “The English Jockey Club is 275 years old and we began to bring rules and order to British racing and were the governing body and the operator for 250 years. Twenty-five years ago we handed that over to an independent organisation but our purpose is the same, which is to preserve the long-term sustainability of horseracing in Britain and around the world.”

Of the 180 members of the Jockey Club, 23 honorary members are based outside Britain. They include Princess Zahra Aga Khan, owner-breeder of Japan Cup runner Calandagan, Sheikh Mohammed, John Magnier, Bill Farish and Gaynor Rupert.

She continued, “I am so honoured and delighted that the two of you have agreed to become the first Asian members of the Jockey Club. You have done amazing things, not just for Japanese racing, but for the world.

“Horseracing in Britain benefits from a strong racing community in Japan, in France, in Ireland and in America. The sport is stronger when we are all strong, so the global impact that the Yoshidas have had is something that we wanted to recognise.”

 

Katsumi and Teruya Yoshida with Baroness Harding | Emma Berry

 

Teruya Yoshida, owner-breeder of the Japan Cup favourite Masquerade Ball, said, “This is a great honour to receive this, not only for us, but for Japanese racing. Racing started 100 years ago in Japan and we have put a lot of effort into improving our horse quality.”

That last statement has been backed up by the increasingly impressive results of Japanese runners internationally over a number of years, and 2025 alone has witnessed victories for Forever Young in the Saudi Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic, and for Danon Decile in the Dubai Sheema Classic, while Satono Reve was a close second in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

 

The post ‘Great Honour’ as Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida Become Jockey Club Members appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article