For the first time in 40 years, there will be no new jockeys in Japan: what is the reason.

Jockeys in Japan face new challenges

According to The Sun: In Japan, jockeys are losing their jobs and licenses due to excessive weight and dependence on mobile phones. A recent report indicated a 'crisis' on the tracks due to strict rules for apprentice riders.

For the first time in 40 years, there will be no new jockeys in Japan in 2026, as four out of seven candidates were excluded from the training course. The three that remained were forced to repeat a year due to non-compliance with the requirements of the Japan Racing Association.

According to a report in The Times, 'some apprentices consistently failed to control their weight', while others 'violated rules limiting mobile phone use'. Monitoring mobile phone usage in Japan is quite strict.

Phones are prohibited in the weighing room, and participants are effectively isolated until 9:00 PM every Friday before weekend races. Japan's most famous female jockey, Nanako Fujita, shocked fans when she decided to quit racing entirely after violating phone rules. Her agent Yasuhiro Nemoto noted:

“I will never forget how she cried while writing to her peers.”

Another jockey, Motoki Mizunuma, received a nine-month suspension for tricking officials by hiding his phone in a case rather than in his pocket. The ban on mobile phone use is aimed at preventing race manipulation and illegal betting.

Officials have raised the allowed weight over the past few years, as a male cannot weigh more than 54 kg (about 8 st 7 lbs). In a statement, the JRA said:

“The racing school has traditionally taught its students not only technical aspects but also the importance of adhering to laws and regulations.”

Despite the fact that Japanese racing seems to be thriving, the situation appears rather strange. A country that has always aimed to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris has good chances of success this year.

After a series of disappointments in the past, thanks to horses like Bijanskaya Mriya, Croix Du Nord, and Aloi Aly, they have better chances than ever before.