Jockey Imura Sena won the 2024 OAKS G1 race on May 24, 2024, becoming the first JRA female jockey to win a G1 [1, 3].
The victory marks a historic shift in Japanese horse racing, as Imura is the first female jockey from the Japan Racing Association to win a classic race [1, 6].
Imura rode Juuryokupiero to victory over a field of 18 starters [1]. The race took place at the Tokyo Racecourse on a turf course spanning 2,400 meters [2, 3]. The win also provided trainer Yoshinori Terashima with his first G1 victory [1, 5].
Juuryokupiero had previously won a debut race in September 2025 at the Hanshin Racecourse on a dirt track [4]. Despite the horse's history on dirt, Imura navigated the turf distance at Tokyo to secure the title.
Imura addressed the challenges of the race, noting that some were concerned she had never ridden the 2,400-meter distance at Tokyo. "It really feels like I am dreaming," Imura said. She added that she rode the horse with the belief that she was the one who understood Juuryokupiero best [1].
Trainer Yoshinori Terashima said that Imura had a sense of composure and a good atmosphere [1].
The OAKS is one of the most prestigious races for three-year-old fillies, and Imura's win breaks a long-standing glass ceiling for women in the JRA's highest tier of competition [1, 6].
“It really feels like I am dreaming.”
Imura Sena's victory represents a significant cultural and professional milestone within the Japan Racing Association. By winning a G1 classic, Imura has demonstrated that female jockeys can compete and win at the highest level of the sport, potentially opening more opportunities for women to be entrusted with elite horses in future major stakes races.
