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| Yuichi Fukunaga | |
|---|---|
 Fukunaga after the February Stakes in 2023 | |
| Native name | 福永祐一 |
| Occupation | Jockey (retired) Horse trainer |
| Born | 9 December 1976 Rittō-chō (now Rittō), Kurita District, Shiga |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Spouse | Midori Matsuo (m. 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
| Height | 160.0 cm (5 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | 51.0 kg (112 lb) |
| Career winnings | 2636 |
| Racing awards | |
| JRA Award for Best Jockey (winning average) (2011) JRA Award for Best Jockey (races won) (2013) JRA Award for Best Jockey (money earned) (2013) JRA Award for Best Jockey (newcomer) (1996) Most Valuable Jockey (2013) | |
| Significant horses | |
| King Halo, Cesario, Epiphaneia, Just A Way, Wagnerian, Contrail, Pixie Knight | |
Yuichi Fukunaga (福永 祐一, Fukunaga Yūichi, born 9 December 1976[1]) is a Japanese horse trainer and former jockey who has won 29 Grade 1 races in Japan and abroad. He is affiliated with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) in Rittō. His father is former jockey Yoichi Fukunaga who was said to be a "genius" during his active career,[2] and his uncle is Takashi Kitamura, also a former jockey.[3] His wife is former Fuji TV announcer Midori Matsuo.[3] Since July 2016, he has a management contract with Horipro together with Yuga Kawada, the entertainment production in which his wife is also affiliated.[4]
On December 8, 2022, following his trainer license issue being issued by the JRA, Fukunaga announced that he would retire as a jockey at the end of February next year and make a transition in to becoming a horse trainer.[5][6] Two months later, Fukunaga rode his final races in Japan at the February Stake on 19 February,[7][8] and finished his racing career at the Riyadh Dirt Sprint on February 25, 2023, where he rode Remake which finished 3rd behind Elite Power.[9][10] Retirement ceremonies of Fukunaga were held at Tokyo Racecourse on 19 February and on the Hanshin Racecourse on March 4.[11]
Fukunaga officially opened his stable on 6 March 2024.[12] Upon opening his stable, he received a number of horses from outgoing trainers, including Danon Scorpion and Dualist from Takayuki Yasuda.[13]
- ^ "祐言実行" (in Japanese). netkeiba.com. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 7 Jun 2018.
- ^ "毎日新聞". Mainichi Shinbun (in Japanese). 1 Mar 1996. p. 7.
- ^ a b "アナにお任せ:３０年目騎手のＧ１初勝利＝毎日放送アナウンサー・美藤啓文" (in Japanese). Mainichi Shinbun. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved 8 Jun 2018.
- ^ "福永と川田がホリプロ所属に 菜七子との共演も". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 1 Jul 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 9 Jun 2018.
- ^ "Japan: Daughter Of Champion Mare Gentildonna Takes On Fans' Top Choices In Arima Kinen - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report". paulickreport.com. 2022-12-22. Archived from the original on 2022-12-22. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "競馬 福永祐一騎手引退へ 調教師試験に合格 歴代4位の2613勝". NHK. Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ Tatsu, Yoshimura (2023-02-17). "【フェブラリーＳ】福永祐一騎手、国内ラストＧ１へ 思い出のジャンパー着てオーヴェルニュと万全デモ". UMATOKU | 馬トク - スポーツ報知' (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ "福永祐一騎手がJRA最終騎乗 ヒヤシンスSでは惜別の白星つかむ | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ "【リヤドダートスプリント結果】福永祐一騎手がリメイク3着で騎手生活に幕 米エリートパワーが完勝 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ "Yuichi Fukunaga prepares for emotional new chapter". Arab News. 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ "福永 祐一騎手の引退式等の実施 JRA". jra.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ "新規開業調教師 JRA". jra.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ "新規開業の福永祐一厩舎に２０２２年ＮＨＫマイルＣ優勝ダノンスコーピオン 引退調教師の管理馬が転厩". サンスポZBAT! (in Japanese). 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-04-22.