Arqana Welcomes Japan's First Female Trainer Kyoko Maekawa

DEAUVILLE, France — An important marker in the history of Japanese racing was passed in December 2023 when Kyoko Maekawa became the first woman to be granted a training licence in the country.

Now 47, Maekawa has worked at Ritto Training Centre in the Shiga Prefecture in western Japan for 21 years. As she completes her apprenticeship alongside the internationally successful trainer Yoshito Yahagi, Maekawa is in Deauville this week to expand her knowledge of the racing and breeding world in other jurisdictions.

“I was granted my licence last year and have not yet started my own training operation but expect to do so from next March,” she told TDN on Saturday. “I have worked as an assistant trainer for several different trainers and after being granted my licence I have to complete a one-year internship so I decided to learn from Mr Yahagi.”

Maekawa is one of almost 200 licensed trainers in the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and will remain at Ritto as she establishes her own business. Born in Tomisato in the Chiba Prefecture which neighbours Tokyo, her equine interest was first piqued by the presence of some prominent stud farms in that area. Subsequent riding lessons eventually led to a career in horseracing.

There is no doubting Maekawa's commitment to her chosen way of life. Her email address begins 'ilovehorse', but she is impressively phlegmatic in acknowledging her role as a history-maker in her home country. 

“Since I was born I have been female so it doesn't feel very special to me,” she said with a laugh. “But since I passed my examination to be given my licence lots and lots of people have contacted me and have said that as I am the first female trainer they would like to support me. So now I feel that I am very lucky to be the first.”

Though she has previously visited Kildare and Newmarket on a JRA-organised tour, Maekawa had not attended a yearling sale outside Japan until this week and she has had the perfect guide in Yahagi, who has become a regular visitor to the Arqana August Sale. Two years ago he bought the full-brother to Sottsass (Fr), who, now named Shin Emperor (Fr), is a Grade 3 winner and was third in the G1 Japanese Derby. Yahagi is now planning a raid on the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, and he added a new recruit to his stable when buying a Frankel (GB) filly for €800,000 during the opening session of this year's sale. 

“This has been a great experience for me,” said Maekawa of her first to an Arqana sale. “I have managed to see some yearlings by Frankel and it is a great opportunity to see yearlings by the top European stallions.”

And, like her mentor, she has designs on a globetrotting career when she launches her training operation in 2025.

She added, “In future I would love to be competitive on all the international stages like Mr Yahagi. When I start training, if I find a suitable race for a horse outside Japan I wouldn't hesitate to go there, and this is why I wanted to learn with Mr Yahagi, as he has so much experience of this.”