Equinox named Japan's 2022 Horse of the Year

Equinox was named 2022 Horse of the Year in Japan earlier this week after winning two of the country’s leading races for older horses in the final months of the year.

Equinox, a colt by Kitasan Black, received 282 of the 288 votes cast for Horse of the Year. Titleholder, named champion older colt or horse, received six votes.

Equinox finished second in the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas and Grade 1 Japanese Derby in the spring. He later won the Grade 1 autumn running of the Tenno Sho Stakes in his debut against older horses in October, and clinched the title with a win the Grade 1 Arima Kinen Stakes on Dec. 25.

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The Arima Kinen had a purse of $6.5 million and is Japan’s richest race.

Equinox was also voted champion 3-year-old colt. Owned by Silk Racing Co., Ltd, and trained by Tetsuya Kimura, Equinox has won 4 of 6 starts in his career.

In other awards, Dolce More was named champion 2-year-old colt, while Liberty Island was a unanimous choice for champion 2-year-old filly.

Stars on Earth was voted champion 3-year-old filly, while Geraldina was named champion older female.

Japan’s championships combine the prizes of outstanding sprinter and miler into one category. Serifos, a 3-year-old colt, earned the title on the basis of a win in the Grade 1 Mile Championship in November.

Café Pharoah, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred horse by American Pharoah, was named champion dirt horse.

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