Woodbine Leading Jockey Kimura to Ride at Santa Anita
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Photo: Michael Burns Photo
Jockey Kazushi Kimura poses with the 2021 Sovereign Award trophy
Woodbine's leading jockey, Kazushi Kimura, plans to ride this winter at Santa Anita Park, according to a report in Daily Racing Form.
Kimura's addition to the Southern California circuit deepens a riding colony that expanded when Flavien Prat and John Velazquez relocated from the East Coast to ride this fall and winter. European Frankie Dettori plans to ride as well when Santa Anita's meet begins Dec. 26.
Despite missing some of the Woodbine meet this year due to injury, Kimura is the clear leader in the Woodbine standings by a 146-117 margin over Rafael Hernandez through racing Nov. 27. Kimura also won the riding title at the Toronto-area track last year on his way to Sovereign Award honors as champion jockey in Canada.
Kimura, a native of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, moved to Canada in 2017 as a teenager with very little knowledge of the English language, but quickly established himself as a young rider. He won both the 2018-19 Sovereign Award as top apprentice in Canada and added an Eclipse Award in 2019 for the same accomplishment in North America.
His move to California will come at a time when Canadian racing is on break. The Woodbine season ends Dec. 11 and resumes in the spring. Many Canadian-based jockeys ride sparingly in warmer climates during the winter or take time off before the long Woodbine season.