On April 11th, the Japan Racing Association sadly announced the passing of jockey Kota Fujioka, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall during the 7th race at Hanshin on April 6th. He was 35 years old.

Fujioka made his debut in 2007 and achieved remarkable success throughout his career, amassing a total of 803 wins in the JRA. Among his notable achievements are 22 JRA Graded Stakes victories, including two prestigious JRA GI wins: the 2009 NHK Mile Cup with Joe Cappuccino and the 2023 Mile Championship with Namur.

His contributions to the world of horse racing will be remembered, and his passing is mourned by the racing community.