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Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Top jockey's tribute to superstar racehorse as champion's grave is officially opened to public
Yuga Kawada said he will never come to terms with the loss of Liberty Island who suffered a fatal injury while racing in Hong Kong in April A top jockey delivered a heartfelt tribute to a champion racehorse who died after suffering a fatal injury while racing in Hong Kong. Liberty Island made history in 2023 when she won the equivalent of Japanese racing's Triple Crown, landing the Japanese 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and the Shuka Sho, which is known as the Triple Tiara. She campaigned on the international stage, finishing third in the Dubai Sheema Classic and second behind Romantic Warrior in the 2024 Hong Kong Cup. She returned to Hong Kong in April as one of the leading challengers for the Group 1 QE II Cup, yet during the race she stumbled and broke down in the straight. Her distressed rider Yuga Kawada dismounted and stood holding the mare tightly as vets and track staff arrived to assist. However her injuries were so serious that the decision was taken to euthanize her. In a subsequent post Kawada told fans, 'I'm sorry she had the worst ending. I am so sorry I took Liberty away from you all.' Kawada rode Liberty Island in all 12 of her races helping the mare to five wins which earned more than £6 million in prize-money. She was so popular in Japan that her owner installed a gravestone at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido, where she was buried. At the ceremony on Wednesday, where guests laid flowers, Kawada said: "There are only a handful of horses that can have a grave like this built. I hope the fans will be able to come and see her whenever they want. I am very grateful that she will be able to remain in such a beautiful space. "She was the most special horse, so I will never be able to come to terms with it, but as a jockey I have no choice but to accept it and move on. It is our role to pass on the many things that Liberty left behind to the next generation, and as jockeys I just have to cherish each and every race."
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Triple Crown-winning racehorse suffers tragic death after breaking down in front of stands
Vets were unable to save Liberty Island after she went wrong during the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong on Sunday The career of one of Japan's most popular racehorses ended in tragedy in Hong Kong on Sunday. Liberty Island, a five-year-old mare trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, made history in 2023 when she won the equivalent of racing's Triple Crown, landing the Japanese 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and the Shuka Sho, which is known as the Triple Tiara. She had been campaigned on the international stage subsequently, finishing third in the Dubai Sheema Classic and was second behind Romantic Warrior in last year's Hong Kong Cup, taking her career earnings to nearly £4million. Liberty Island returned to Hong Kong on Sunday as one of the leading challengers for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup at a packed Sha Tin racecourse. Yet just after beginning to launch her challenge she stumbled and broke down in the straight when she was quickly pulled up by jockey Yuga Kawada and dismounted. A clearly distressed Kawada stood holding the mare tightly as vets and track staff arrived to erect a black screen around her for privacy from onlookers as they worked to save her close to the stands rail. But their efforts were in vain as owners Sunday Racing confirmed: 'She had torn the medial and lateral sesamoid ligaments of her left front leg, and the fetlock joint was subluxated, so the fetlock joint was touching the ground. Unfortunately the veterinarian diagnosed her with a poor prognosis and she was euthanised.' Among many to post tributes, John Stewart, owner of Goliath, who finished ninth in the race in which Tastiera beat Prognosis to produce a one-two for Japan, said: 'As we are about to leave HK, I am heartbroken over the loss of Liberty Island. I was in awe of her in the paddock. She was magnificent and it is so unfortunate for her owners. My heart goes out to Sunday Racing Co.' Hong Kong stewards found jockey Brenton Avdulla guilty of careless riding for moving his mount Ensued out when not clear, leaving Liberty Island short of room. He was suspended for three days and fined £6,000. Kawada was also questioned, telling officials that Liberty Island 'travelled only fairly during the race, however, he had no concern with its action prior to the 250m'. He added that 'in his opinion, whilst Liberty Island was crowded near the 300m this had no bearing on the horse going amiss near the 250m'. In Japan, leading stud farm and owner Northern Farm announced there would be a floral tribute at the Horse Gallery in Northern Horse Park in memory of Liberty Island. A portion of the admission fee to the park will be donated to medical research for racehorses.
