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Hakuryo

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Hakuryo
Hakuryo (right) with jockey Takao Yasuda
SirePrimero (GB)
GrandsireBlandford (GB)
DamDai-yon Buchanum Beauty (JPN)
DamsireDiolite (GB)
SexStallion
Foaled6 May 1950
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederYashima Bokujo
OwnerHiroshi Nishi
TrainerTokichi Ogata
JockeyTakao Yasuda
Toshio Nihonyanagi
Katsumi Yagisawa
Shuji Ito
Takeshi Takao
Akiyoshi Yamazaki
Record25: 16-4-5
Earnings¥10,093,200
Major wins
Kikuka-sho (1953)
Tenno Sho (Spring) (1954)
Mainichi Okan (1954)
Nakayama Kimpai (1955)
Meguro Kinen (Spring) (1955)
Awards
Japanese Horse of the Year (1954)
Best Older Colt or Horse (1954)

Hakuryo (Japanese: ハクリヨウ, May 6, 1950 – September 4, 1975) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won the 1953 Kikuka-sho and the 1954 Tenno Sho (Spring).[1] In 1954, he received the Keishu-sha Award for Japanese Horse of the Year and Best Older Colt or Horse.[1] After retiring, he stood as a stallion and sired 11 stakes winners, including two classic winners.[2]

Background

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Hakuryo was foaled on May 6, 1950, at Morita Farm in Aomori Prefecture, where his dam had been sent from Yashima Bokujo.[2] His childhood name was Yashima Beauty.[2] He was sired by Primero, and his dam was Dai-yon Buchanum Beauty, a daughter of Diolite.[2] His full siblings included New Moana, who won the 1952 Mainichi Okan, and Shirahata, who won the Fukushima Kinen and later became the dam of Meiji Hikari.[2] Among his contemporaries bred at Yashima Bokujo were Bostonian and Tokitsu.[2]

Hakuryo was purchased by Hiroshi Nishi and trained by Tokichi Ogata.[1] The name "Hakuryo" is derived from a fisherman in the Noh play Hagoromo.[3] He measured 172 cm in height and 194 cm in girth, which was large for a Japanese racehorse of the 1950s.[2][4] This build contributed to chronic quarter cracks that affected him throughout his career.[4]

Racing career

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1952–1953: Early career

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Hakuryo debuted on November 8, 1952, at Tokyo Racecourse, finishing third after being promoted from fourth due to the disqualification of Hatakaze.[5] Hoof problems delayed his next starts until March 1953, when he won a maiden race.[5] In the spring, he contested the Japanese Triple Crown races, finishing second to Bostonian in the Satsuki Sho and the NHK Hai, and third behind Bostonian in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).[5]

During the summer, he won four open-class races, including the Nakayama Yonsai Stakes in a course record time of 2:06.1.[5] In the autumn, he lost to Bostonian in a Kyoto open race but won the Kikuka-sho on November 23.[5] Ridden by Takao Yasuda, Hakuryo took the lead at the third corner and defeated Bostonian by three and a half lengths, preventing him from winning the Triple Crown.[5][6]

1954–1955: Older horse career

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In 1954, Hakuryo was undefeated in five starts.[5] His victories included the Tenno Sho (Spring), where he defeated Bostonian by six lengths, and the Mainichi Okan, which he won by four lengths over Cheerio, Bostonian, and Takao.[5] Following the Mainichi Okan, he received an invitation to run in the Washington, D.C. International Stakes in the United States, becoming the first Japanese-trained horse to receive such an invitation.[7] The owner accepted, and the horse was transported to Haneda Airport, but the overseas trip was cancelled because his large size made air transport unfeasible and sea transport was considered detrimental to his condition.[7]

In January 1955, he was named Japanese Horse of the Year and Best Older Colt or Horse, defeating Dainana Hoshu in the voting.[1] He also received the Tokyo Racing Journalists Club Award.[2] He returned to racing in 1955, winning the Nakayama Kimpai and the Meguro Kinen (Spring).[5] He finished third in an open race in July while carrying 69 kg, after which he was retired.[5]

Statistics

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The following table details all 25 starts of Hakuryo's racing career based on official JRA historical records.

Date Distance (Condition) Race Class Course Odds
(Favourite)		 Field Finish Time Winning
(Losing)
Margin		 Winner
(2nd Place)		 Jockey Ref
1952 – two-year-old season
Nov 8 Turf 1000 m (Good) Newcomer Maiden Tokyo N/A 7 3rd N/A N/A Tokitsu Takao Yasuda [5]
1953 – three-year-old season
Mar 8 Turf 1200 m (Good) 5-Man Shita Allowance Tokyo N/A 13 1st R1:17.2 –Nose (Daiwa) Takao Yasuda [5]
Mar 21 Turf 1600 m (Good) 4-Y-O Special Allowance Tokyo N/A 9 3rd N/A N/A Tokitsu Takao Yasuda [5]
Apr 5 Turf 1800 m (Soft) 20-Man Shita Allowance Nakayama N/A 8 1st R1:58.1 –5 (Tenou Musashi) Toshio Nihonyanagi [5]
Apr 26 Turf 2000 m (Good) Satsuki Sho GI Nakayama N/A 17 2nd N/A 1 Bostonian Toshio Nihonyanagi [5]
May 10 Turf 2000 m (Good) NHK Hai Open Tokyo N/A 10 2nd N/A 3.5 Bostonian Toshio Nihonyanagi [5]
May 24 Turf 2400 m (Heavy) Tokyo Yushun GI Tokyo N/A 33 3rd N/A N/A Bostonian Toshio Nihonyanagi [5]
May 30 Turf 1800 m (Good) Open Open Tokyo N/A 5 1st R1:55.3 –8 (Queen Suess) Takao Yasuda [5]
Jun 14 Turf 1600 m (Good) Yasuda Sho Open Tokyo N/A 9 3rd N/A N/A Swee Sue Katsumi Yagisawa [5]
Jun 21 Turf 1800 m (Good) Special Handicap Open Nakayama N/A 6 2nd N/A Nose Kiyostrong Takao Yasuda [5]
Jul 5 Turf 2000 m (Soft) Nakayama Yonsai S Open Nakayama N/A 7 1st R2:06.1 –3 (Hatao) Toshio Nihonyanagi [5]
Sep 23 Turf 1800 m (Good) Open Open Tokyo N/A 7 1st R1:52.0 –2.5 (Fuso) Takao Yasuda [5]
Oct 10 Turf 1800 m (Soft) Open Open Nakayama N/A 6 1st R1:54.4 –8 (Kaneharu) Takao Yasuda [5]
Oct 18 Turf 2000 m (Good) Kabutoyama Kinen Open Nakayama N/A 8 1st R2:05.0 –5 (Minenosugata) Takao Yasuda [5]
Nov 14 Turf 2000 m (Good) Open Open Kyoto N/A 7 2nd N/A 1.5 Bostonian Shuji Ito [5]
Nov 23 Turf 3000 m (Good) Kikuka-sho GI Kyoto N/A 8 1st R3:09.1 –3.5 (Bostonian) Takao Yasuda [5]
1954 – four-year-old season
Mar 14 Turf 1800 m (Good) Special Handicap Open Tokyo N/A 11 1st R1:51.0 –2 (Fuso) Takao Yasuda [5]
Mar 28 Turf 2400 m (Good) Tokyo Hai Open Tokyo N/A 5 1st R2:30.2 –5 (Takahata) Takao Yasuda [5]
May 8 Turf 2000 m (Good) Open Open Kyoto N/A 4 1st R2:05.0 –9 (Daisan Hoshu) Takeshi Takao [5]
May 16 Turf 3200 m (Good) Tenno Sho (Spring) GI Kyoto N/A 6 1st R3:24.2 –6 (Bostonian) Takao Yasuda [5]
Oct 3 Turf 2500 m (Good) Mainichi Okan Open Tokyo N/A 5 1st R2:35.2 –4 Cheerio Takao Yasuda [5]
1955 – five-year-old season
Jan 16 Turf 2600 m (Good) Nakayama Kimpai Open Tokyo N/A 10 1st R2:45.2 –2.5 (Takao) Takao Yasuda [5]
Mar 27 Turf 2500 m (Soft) Meguro Kinen (Spring) Open Tokyo N/A 4 1st R2:40.4 –0.75 (Kane Eikan) Takao Yasuda [5]
Jul 10 Turf 1700 m (Good) Open Open Nakayama N/A 7 3rd N/A N/A Masahata Akiyoshi Yamazaki [5]
  • Note: "R" in the Time column indicates a course record. Exact decimal odds were not systematically recorded for JRA races in the early 1950s; "N/A" denotes historically unavailable metrics.

Notable progeny

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  • 1957 crop
    • Caesar – Takarazuka Kinen, Asahi Challenge Cup, Naruo Kinen, Chukyo Kinen, Hankyu Hai, Meguro Kinen (Spring), Swan Stakes
    • Kusanagi – Chukyo Kinen
  • 1959 crop
    • Yamano O – Satsuki Sho, Mainichi Okan, Diamond Stakes, Yasuda Kinen, Nikkei Sho
    • Toast – Nakayama Kinen, Mainichi Okan, Nakayama Kimpai, Argentine Jockey Club Cup
  • 1960 crop
    • Chitose River – Kyoto Yonsai Tokubetsu
    • Chiest O – NTV Hai
  • 1962 crop
    • Houran – Nakayama Daishogai (Autumn)
    • Kitashinzan – Hanshin Shogai Stakes (Spring)
  • 1963 crop
    • Marufubuki – Niigata Kinen
  • 1964 crop
    • Sea Ace – Oka Sho
    • New Onward – American Jockey Club Cup, Stayers Stakes

Broodmare sire progeny

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  • Hikaru Takai (1964, by Limbo) – Tenno Sho (Spring)
  • Inter Hikari (1966, by Garcent) – Best Steeplechaser (1971)
    • Barone Turf (1972, by Bounteous) – Best Steeplechaser (1977–1979)
  • Lucky Ruler (1974, by Stupendous) – Tokyo Yushun
  • Dokan Jo (1984, by Tosho Boy) – Best Two-Year-Old Filly (1986)

Stud career and evaluation

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Hakuryo stood at Wakakusa Farm in Hokkaido for three years before moving to the Urakawa Stallion Station.[2] During this period, domestic stallions were generally less favored due to the influx of foreign imports, but Hakuryo sired multiple stakes winners.[2] He ranked in the top ten of the Japanese general sire list seven times, peaking at fourth in 1964.[2] He died of old age on September 4, 1975, at the age of 25, and was buried at Urakawa Minota Farm.[2]

Jockey Takao Yasuda, who rode both Hakuryo and Hakuchikara, stated that Hakuryo possessed more speed and power than Hakuchikara, and that his front-running style would have been suited to American racing.[2][4] Trainer Tokichi Ogata noted that few horses of the era matched Hakuryo's physical build.[2] Hiroshi Nishi's wife later stated that Nishi had originally intended to send Hakuryo, rather than Hakuchikara, to compete in the United States.[4]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Hakuryo (JPN)
Sire
Primero (GB) 1931		 Blandford (GB) 1919 Swynford (GB) John O'Gaunt (GB)
Canterbury Pilgrim (GB)
Blanche (GB) White Eagle (GB)
Black Cherry (GB)
Athasi (IRE) 1917 Farasi (GB) Desmond (GB)
Molly Morgan (GB)
Athgreany (GB) Galloping Simon (GB)
Fairyland (GB)
Dam
Dai-yon Buchanum Beauty (JPN) 1930		 Diolite (GB) 1927 Diophon (GB) Grand Parade (GB)
Donnetta (GB)
Needle Rock (GB) Rock Sand (GB)
Needle Point (GB)
Buchanum Beauty (JPN) 1929 Shian Mor (GB) Buchan (GB)
Orlass (GB)
Dai-san Beautiful Dreamer (JPN) Intagliore (GB)
Beautiful Dreamer (GB)

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "ハクリヨウ (Hakuryo) - Profile & Race Record". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Nihon no Meiba (Famous Horses of Japan) (in Japanese). Thoroughbred Bloodstock Center. 1971. pp. 156–169. ASIN B000J93LLC.
  3. ↑ Fujino, Koichiro (1992). Natsukashiki Meiba-tachi (Nostalgic Famous Horses) (in Japanese). Cosmo Hills. p. 34. ISBN 4877038094.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Imai, Hisae (1999). Sekai e no Hisho: Hakuchikara 1959 - Taiki Shuttle 1998 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. p. 53. ISBN 4048530356.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 "ハクリヨウ 競走成績 (Full Race Record)". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Fujino, Koichiro (1992). Natsukashiki Meiba-tachi (in Japanese). Cosmo Hills. p. 36. ISBN 4877038094.
  7. 1 2 "Yushun April 2009 Issue". Yushun (in Japanese). Japan Racing Association: 121. 2009.
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