Yokoyama Wins Hanshin Jockey Event; Borel 6th

Japan's Norihiro Yokoyama captured the two-day "World Super Jockeys Series" at Hanshin Racecourse Dec. 6, comfortably defeating closest pursuers Hong Kong's Douglas Whyte and Ryan Moore of Great Britain. Americans Calvin Borel and Garrett Gomez finished sixth and 14th, respectively, in the 15-rider field.

Yokoyama, who won the WSJS title in 1995, emerged from a tie with Moore after the first day of the competition to win the Golden Boots Trophy aboard Tagano Premiere Dec. 6. He ended with 47 overall points in the four-race series. Whyte scored 38 points to finish second for the second year in a row. Moore was a close third with 37. Defending champion Ioritz Mendizabal of France finished in a three-way tie for seventh with 23 points.

Borel turned in the best American effort, winning the Golden Saddle Trophy in the first race Dec. 5 aboard the Australian-bred Oceana Boss. Borel accumulated just six points on the second day to fall out of contention.

“It was fun," said Yokoyama. "I’m glad to be number one again after a little while. We jockeys are like-minded no matter where we’re from.”