Skip to content
LEGENDSOF JAPANESE RACING
JAEN

REAL RACING ARCHIVE(documented racing history)

JOCKEY · RETIRED

Yukio Okabe

岡部幸雄

31 Oct 1948Gunma, JapanJRA (retired)

Symboli Rudolf’s regular rider — a pioneer of freelance riding who championed a “horse first” philosophy.

Yukio Okabe at Hanshin Racecourse
Yukio Okabe at Hanshin Racecourse, 2 December 2007
Photo: Ogiyoshisan · CC BY-SA 3.0

02

Profile

Born
31 Oct 1948
Birthplace
Gunma, Japan
Nationality
Japanese
Affiliation
JRA (retired)
Status
RETIRED
Riding career
1967 – 2005

03

Career

2,943

JRA career wins

The JRA record from Jan 1995 to Jul 2007

He rode in the JRA from 1967 to 2005. Influenced by American racing, he brought to Japan a “horse first” philosophy and the techniques that went with it.

He was also a pioneer of freelance riding, free of ties to a single stable or owner, and held the JRA record for career wins from January 1995 to July 2007.

04

Major victories

Counted only within the race records of horses held in this archive.

  1. 15 Apr 1984

    Satsuki Sho

    皐月賞

    Symboli Rudolf

  2. 27 May 1984

    Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)

    東京優駿

    Symboli Rudolf

  3. 11 Nov 1984

    Kikuka Sho

    菊花賞

    Symboli Rudolf

  4. 23 Dec 1984

    Arima Kinen

    有馬記念

    Symboli Rudolf

  5. 29 Apr 1985

    Tenno Sho (Spring)

    天皇賞（春）

    Symboli Rudolf

  6. 24 Nov 1985

    Japan Cup

    ジャパンC

    Symboli Rudolf

  7. 22 Dec 1985

    Arima Kinen

    有馬記念

    Symboli Rudolf

  8. 25 Dec 1988

    Arima Kinen

    有馬記念

    Oguri Cap

  9. 29 Nov 1992

    Japan Cup

    ジャパンC

    Tokai Teio

05

Career timeline

  1. 23 Jul 1983

    Symboli Rudolf—Newcomer race#1

  2. 29 Oct 1983

    Symboli Rudolf—Icho Tokubetsu#1

  3. 27 Nov 1983

    Symboli Rudolf—Open race#1

  4. 04 Mar 1984

    Symboli Rudolf—Yayoi ShoGIII#1

  5. 15 Apr 1984

    Symboli Rudolf—Satsuki ShoGI#1

  6. 27 May 1984

    Symboli Rudolf—Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)GI#1

  7. 30 Sep 1984

    Symboli Rudolf—St Lite KinenGIII#1

  8. 11 Nov 1984

    Symboli Rudolf—Kikuka ShoGI#1

  9. 25 Nov 1984

    Symboli Rudolf—Japan CupGI#3

  10. 23 Dec 1984

    Symboli Rudolf—Arima KinenGI#1

  11. 31 Mar 1985

    Symboli Rudolf—Nikkei ShoGII#1

  12. 29 Apr 1985

    Symboli Rudolf—Tenno Sho (Spring)GI#1

  13. 27 Oct 1985

    Symboli Rudolf—Tenno Sho (Autumn)GI#2

  14. 24 Nov 1985

    Symboli Rudolf—Japan CupGI#1

  15. 22 Dec 1985

    Symboli Rudolf—Arima KinenGI#1

  16. 29 Mar 1986

    Symboli Rudolf—San Luis Rey HandicapGI#6

  17. 25 Dec 1988

    Oguri Cap—Arima KinenGI#1

  18. 05 Apr 1992

    Tokai Teio—Sankei Osaka HaiGII#1

  19. 26 Apr 1992

    Tokai Teio—Tenno Sho (Spring)GI#5

  20. 01 Nov 1992

    Tokai Teio—Tenno Sho (Autumn)GI#7

  21. 29 Nov 1992

    Tokai Teio—Japan CupGI#1

  22. 29 Nov 1998

    Special Week—Japan CupGI#3

06

Iconic horses

07

Gallery

SOURCES & REFERENCES

Sources & References

  1. 01
    岡部幸雄 — Wikipedia（日本語版）

    Wikipedia · Reference · Accessed 2026-09-26

  2. 02
    Yukio Okabe — Wikipedia (English)

    Wikipedia · Reference · Accessed 2026-09-26

IMAGE CREDITS

Image credits

Each photograph was checked on its individual Wikimedia Commons file page for author and licence.