The NAR Grand Prix 2024 Awards Ceremony took place on February 3 at a hotel in Tokyo, honoring the outstanding achievements within Japan's local horse racing community. The highlight of the event was the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, which was awarded to Light Warrior, trained by Katsuyoshi Uchida and ridden by Hiroto Yoshihara.
Light Warrior, with impressive lineage tracing back to sire Majestic Warrior and dam Spectro Light, has made significant strides since transferring from JRA to Kawasaki Racing. The horse quickly emerged as a frontrunner, clinching victories at the Saitama Newspaper Eikan Sho and the Katsuima Crown last autumn. Despite earlier difficulties obtaining title wins, Light Warrior skyrocketed to fame by winning the Kawasaki Kinen, securing its place as one of the top horses of local racing.
“I am truly grateful to receive such a significant award. This is largely thanks to the outstanding performance during the Kawasaki Kinen,” said trainer Uchida, expressing his appreciation for the recognition.
Jockey Yoshihara, who enjoyed riding Light Warrior, shared similar sentiments, stating, “I’m honored to have been able to ride such a magnificent horse. It’s something I’m incredibly proud of. The pacing was just right during the race, and the final push around the fourth corner led us to victory.” His emotions were evident as he remembered the excitement of crossing the finish line, stating, “Honestly, when we crossed the line, it felt like a dream. I didn’t know what to say at first. It didn’t hit me until I saw the newspaper the next day.”
Light Warrior also competed abroad, marking its debut run overseas, which Yoshihara described as both challenging and rewarding: “It was our first adventure overseas, and even though there were some delays at the starting gate, the horse really showed what it could do. That experience was immensely valuable.”
The NAR Grand Prix also recognized other remarkable equestrians and horses at the ceremony. The top awards included categories such as Best Horse over Four Years Old, awarded to Light Warrior as well, and several two-year-old and three-year-old title distinctions. Soldier Field and Proud Flair were recognized as the best two-year-old colt and filly respectively, with Santonole and Lorire Flavor taking home the same honors among three-year-olds.
Yoshihara, who achieved his career-high through intense competition last year, was showcased for having reached the remarkable milestone of 3,000 career victories—a first within Kanazawa Racing history. “It’s definitely something to be pleased about,” he said proudly. “It was a fulfilling year, and I aim not to let it down again this year.” He has set his eyes on reaching 200 stakes victories this year, with only 22 left before achieving this remarkable feat.
Special awards were also awarded during the ceremony. Notably, Yoshihara was named the recipient of the Special Award for his incredible achievements, including achieving the most stakes victories among all regional racecourses within the year. Acknowledging the impact of his work, he stated, “While it has been challenging, I’m wholeheartedly committed to exceeding my past performances this year.”
The ceremony served as not only a celebration of the past year’s successes but also as motivation for future competitions. Light Warrior’s success reignited hopes of continued victories both domestically and internationally. “I want to produce races this season as Horse of the Year without shame,” Yoshihara remarked, emphasizing the weight of representing such esteemed recognition as he moves forward.
Overall, the NAR Grand Prix 2024 Awards Ceremony encapsulated the spirit of competition and sportsmanship thriving within Japanese horse racing, forecasting exciting times ahead for these athletes and their talented equine companions.