2019 Eclipse Awards: Kazushi Kimura

Kazushi Kimura led all North American-based apprentice jockeys in mount earnings in 2019 and for his memorable season is an Eclipse Award finalist. He won 117 races and reached $3.7 million in mount earnings from Jan. 1 through the final date of his apprentice allowance, Oct. 26.

Kimura is a 20-year-old who attended riding school in his native Japan. He has been plying his trade in Canada and won his first North American race at Woodbine in 2018 aboard 70-1 shot Tornado Cat. That same year, Kimura won five races on a Woodbine card and would go on to lock up the Sovereign Award as Canada’s outstanding apprentice jockey of 2018.

Kimura’s apprentice allowance carried over into 2019, and consistency was the hallmark of his season. Aside from his 117 wins from 717 mounts, he finished second in 108 races and third in 99 races.

Kimura excelled on turf, with 52 of his wins during his apprentice period in 2019 coming on the grass, for an 18 percent strike rate. Despite the wins, it could be argued his most significant race on turf was a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Canadian in September at Woodbine. It came aboard Magnetic Charm, whom Kimura rode for Queen Elizabeth II and trainer William Haggas.

Kimura would go on to rank as Woodbine’s leading apprentice for the second year in a row and overall was third in the standings during the meet that ended in December.

“I’ve got so much help from a lot of trainers and grooms and so many people,” Kimura told publicity at Woodbine. “That’s why I appreciate everybody.”

:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories