The Japan Racing Association has made history by granting European jockeys Mirco Demuro and Christophe Lemaire full season licences from March 1.
Italian Demuro and Frenchman Lemaire are the first jockeys from outside Japan to receive full season licences.
They will be permitted to ride from March 1. Except for when permission is given to ride elsewhere, the two have an obligation to ride in Japan.
The internationally-renowned pair had to pass the second and final stage of the JRA jockey test, the same requirements that is applied to Japanese riders licensed by the JRA.
Demuro and Lemaire received their licenses along with four new Japanese jockeys as part of the 31st graduating class of the JRA Horseracing School.
There was one previous instance of a non-Japanese jockey being granted a long-term licence by the JRA in 1955 but the licensing of Demuro and Lemaire is seen as a historical move and a turning point for racing in Japan.
It wasn’t until 1994 that foreign jockeys were allowed to ride in Japan other than in designated international races such as the Japan Cup.
However a tedious application process applied for many years riders had to be sponsored by a Japanese trainer and racehorse owner.
If granted a license, non-Japanese riders were still restricted to a maximum term of three months with a maximum of five riders at any one time.
Demuro and Lemaire have enjoyed great success in Japan during their numerous short term stints and have won a number of top G1 races.
The rule change allowing foreign jockeys to apply for 12-monmth licences was introduced in 2014 providing they were able to pass the two-part JRA jockey test.
The first part of the test is a written examination and the second part is oral. A health exam and background review are also required.
Demuro was the first to apply but failed the first part of the test last year.
However Lemaire and Demuro both passed the first part of the test for the 2015 in October and at the end of January succeeded in passing the second part and landing licenses.
The 36-year-old Demuro has been riding part time in Japan for 15 years and was delighted to receive a full licence.
“I have ridden in Japan for 15 years and love it so much I have come to consider it my second home. It has always been my dream to someday become a jockey in Japan,” he said.
“It was tough studying Japanese and preparing for the test while I was riding in Hong Kong. I am so grateful for all the support I have received from so many people and for all the encouragement I have received from Japan’s racing fans.
Demuro, champion jockey in his native Italy four times, has been riding in Japan since 1999 and has won more than 350 races including 10 G1 events during his visits.
In 2003 became the first non-Japanese jockey to win the Japanese Derby. He has also won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) three times, the Arima Kinen, Japan Cup and Tenno Sho (Autumn).
In 2011 he rode the Japanese-trained Victoire Pisa to victory in the Dubai World Cup, a first for Japan.
Lemaire, 35, has had 13 years of riding experience in Japan.
He has been recovering from injuries suffered in a fall at Kyoto in November and is planning to be back riding from March 1.
Lemaire first came to Japan on a short-term license in 2002 and has since 18 JRA graded features including five G1 races (Japan Cup, Arima Kinen, Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Japan Cup Dirt twice).
