Japan’s top female jockey has sensationally quit the saddle a day after being charged with breaking mobile phone rules.
Nanako Fujita, 27, became an idol among Japanese racing fans when she entered the sport at the age of 16. She was the first woman to join the jockey ranks in 16 years on the top tier Japan Racing Association circuit.
She went on to ride 166 winners, the most by a woman, and became the first female jockey to win a Group race and ride in a Group 1. Out of action with injury for some of 2024, she has ridden six winners this year.
On the international stage she won the Women Jockeys’ World Cup in Sweden in 2019 and has twice represented Japan in the Shergar Cup at Ascot, most recently in August this year.
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On Thursday she was suspended pending an arbitration committee hearing over her use of a smart phone in a restricted area of the racecourse up until April 2023, a serious offence in Japan.
Before all JRA fixtures, jockeys are put into isolation from 9pm the day before a meeting and denied any communication with the outside until the races are over. A number of jockeys have received lengthy bans for breaches of the rules but on Friday Fujita handed in her licence.
A JRA notice said: “We would like to inform you that jockey Nanako Fujita (Miho, Nemoto Yasuhiro Stable) applied to have her jockey licence revoked, and her licence has been revoked as of Friday, October 11th.”
According to details of the case released by the JRA, Fujita had admitted using her device to communicate with others and when told of her suspension, said she intended to retire.
In a press conference at Miho Training Centre, Fujita’ jockey’s boss, trainer Yasuhiro Nemoto said she had broken down as she completed her retirement application. "I will never forget the sight of her crying as she wrote (her retirement notice) with my fountain pen,” he said.
He said that Fujita had declared her phone use to the JRA when six other female jockey were given suspensions in May last year. He said she was given a verbal warning.
“I don't think it's right to discipline her again,” he said.
