Yano Stable

I've been meaning to do this for ages, but never seem to get the chance with so many other horse-related events and results to record, along with the time spent watching them and riding them. Oh yes, and there's that thing called work as well, which takes up far too much of my day!

But anyway, for anyone in the know, one glance at Phosphorus' pictures
will tell you he is with the Yano Stable at Funabashi, for the famous black and yellow striped face mask is a signature of the establishment, brought about by the owner's love of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.

Courtesy Yano Stable

The man behind it all is Yoshiyuki Yano, who was born in February 1951. He was actually the top jockey at Kimiidera Keiba in Wakayama, but he moved to Funabashi when it closed in 1988. Along the way, Yano-sensei claimed 887 wins from 8850 rides, so the younger lads that work for him can't get away with much - he knows what he's talking about from many years and a great deal of success in the saddle.

After retiring as a jockey, the Yano Stable was established in June 2002, with its first win coming just two days after start-up. It took four years to clock up 100 victories, but the 500th came in September 2013, and the 600th is looming even as I write this. He was leading trainer at Funabashi in 2012 and 2013, but it's not just the success that makes him special - a chance to talk to him will soon have you admiring him as a person of the same ilk as another of my heroes at the Funabashi track...