Corey Nakatani
Encyclopedia
Corey S. Nakatani is an American
Thoroughbred
horse racing
jockey
. He got his big break in 1990 when he rode Itsallgreektome
to win big stakes races.
Nakatani currently resides at Belmont Park. On October 8, 2011, he won 6 races in one day including two grade one victories.
As of 2006, Nakatani has won more than 3,000 races including the Kentucky Oaks
twice, one time on Lite Light
and the other riding Pike Place Dancer, the Canadian International Stakes
, the Strub Stakes
four times, the Dubai Golden Shaheen
, and seven Breeders' Cup
s, three of which were won consecutively between 1996 and 1998 in the Breeders' Cup Sprint
. Although he has won seven Breeders' Cup
s, he has never won the Kentucky Derby
in twelve tries. In 2006, he ranked sixth among United States jockeys with 145 wins on 738 mounts, with earnings of $14,001,900.
Corey Nakatani is married to his second wife, Lisa, and has a daughter, Brittany, and two sons, Matthew, who currently plays football for the University of Louisville, and Austin, from a previous marriage to Michelle Dollase, daughter of trainer Wallace Dollase
. His late father Roy Nakatani, a Japanese American, was born in a World War II internment camp and spent time at Santa Anita Park
when it was a relocation camp. Corey's mother is Marie Nakatani and he is one of ten children. Corey was a champion high school wrestler who became intrigued by racing after visiting Santa Anita with his father after a wrestling tournament at the age of sixteen. Nakatani eventually approached horse trainer Roger Stein for work. After three days of mucking out stalls and walking horses, he decided he wanted to ride even though he had never been on a horse before. Stein then suggested that he get some experience on a working farm, so he learned the ropes on the Thoroughbred farm of Tony Matos. He then went on and broke and galloped horses for Johnny Longden
and Longden’s son, Eric Longden before starting his career as a jockey. He graduated from jockey school in Castaic, California, and won his first race, a dead heat, in Caliente, Mexico in 1988 aboard Blue King. He moved to Southern California in April 1989, and became the leading apprentice jockey that same year. His current residence is New York.
Corey Nakatani won his 3,000th race at Hollywood Park on Memorial Day, May 29, 2006 aboard Shakin N Dancin in the ninth race of the day.
Nakatani has had some excellent horses, including Serena's Song
, Rock Hard Ten
, Sarafan
, Elloluv, Event of the Year, Lava Man
, Lite Light
, Sandpit
, Cara Rafaela
, and Relaxed Gesture
. He is also the regular rider of seven champions, including Itsallgreektome
, Jewel Princess
, Lit de Justice
, Possible Perfect, Reraise, Wandesta, and Sweet Catomine.
He is an outstanding golfer who carries a three handicap.
Nakatani's agent is Ron Andersonl.
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!Chart (2000–present)
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
. He got his big break in 1990 when he rode Itsallgreektome
Itsallgreektome
Itsallgreektome was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Sired by Sovereign Dancer, who also sired Preakness Stakes winners Gate Dancer and Louis Quatorze, he was out of the mare Sans Supplement, a daughter of Grey Dawn, who was a multiple stakes winner in France.The winner of top stakes...
to win big stakes races.
Nakatani currently resides at Belmont Park. On October 8, 2011, he won 6 races in one day including two grade one victories.
As of 2006, Nakatani has won more than 3,000 races including the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
twice, one time on Lite Light
Lite Light
Lite Light was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A daughter of Hall of Famer Majestic Prince, Lite Light counts Nearco and Princequillo among her ancestors. She was owned by Jack L. Finley at age two and into the early phases of her three-year-old campaign before being purchased by rap music...
and the other riding Pike Place Dancer, the Canadian International Stakes
Canadian International Stakes
The Canadian International Stakes is a $2 million Grade I Canadian stakes race on Turf for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario....
, the Strub Stakes
Strub Stakes
The Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year.Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $300,000, it is open to horses, age four, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic surface of Santa Anita and offers...
four times, the Dubai Golden Shaheen
Dubai Golden Shaheen
The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres on the dirt course at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in late March....
, and seven Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
s, three of which were won consecutively between 1996 and 1998 in the Breeders' Cup Sprint
Breeders' Cup Sprint
The Breeders' Cup Sprint is an American Weight for Age Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds & up. Run on dirt over a distance of 6 Furlongs , the race has been held annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World...
. Although he has won seven Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
s, he has never won the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
in twelve tries. In 2006, he ranked sixth among United States jockeys with 145 wins on 738 mounts, with earnings of $14,001,900.
Corey Nakatani is married to his second wife, Lisa, and has a daughter, Brittany, and two sons, Matthew, who currently plays football for the University of Louisville, and Austin, from a previous marriage to Michelle Dollase, daughter of trainer Wallace Dollase
Wallace Dollase
Wallace A. "Wally" Dollase is an American trainer and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.Among his numerous Graded stakes race wins, Dollase won the 1996 Breeders' Cup Distaff with Jewel Princess who was voted that year's Eclipse Award as the American Champion Older Female Horse.Wally Dollase and...
. His late father Roy Nakatani, a Japanese American, was born in a World War II internment camp and spent time at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
when it was a relocation camp. Corey's mother is Marie Nakatani and he is one of ten children. Corey was a champion high school wrestler who became intrigued by racing after visiting Santa Anita with his father after a wrestling tournament at the age of sixteen. Nakatani eventually approached horse trainer Roger Stein for work. After three days of mucking out stalls and walking horses, he decided he wanted to ride even though he had never been on a horse before. Stein then suggested that he get some experience on a working farm, so he learned the ropes on the Thoroughbred farm of Tony Matos. He then went on and broke and galloped horses for Johnny Longden
Johnny Longden
John Eric Longden was an American Hall of Fame jockey. He was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England but his father wanted to build a better life for his family so in 1909 emigrated to Canada, settling in Taber, Alberta. By 1912 Longden Sr. had saved enough money to send for his wife and young son...
and Longden’s son, Eric Longden before starting his career as a jockey. He graduated from jockey school in Castaic, California, and won his first race, a dead heat, in Caliente, Mexico in 1988 aboard Blue King. He moved to Southern California in April 1989, and became the leading apprentice jockey that same year. His current residence is New York.
Corey Nakatani won his 3,000th race at Hollywood Park on Memorial Day, May 29, 2006 aboard Shakin N Dancin in the ninth race of the day.
Nakatani has had some excellent horses, including Serena's Song
Serena's Song
Serena’s Song is an American Thoroughbred race horse. She won 17 graded stakes races, including 11 Grade I , in three seasons for $3,286,388 in earnings....
, Rock Hard Ten
Rock Hard Ten
Rock Hard Ten is a millionaire American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. Co-owned and bred by Madeleine Paulson, widow of prominent horseman Allen E. Paulson, the bay horse stands at 17 hands. He was sired by the great Kris S., out of the Mr...
, Sarafan
Sarafan
A Sarafan is a traditional Russian long, shapeless jumper dress worn as Russian folk costume by women and girls.Chronicles first mention it under the year 1376, and since that time it was worn well until the 20th century. It is now worn as folk costume for performing Russian folk songs and folk...
, Elloluv, Event of the Year, Lava Man
Lava Man
Lava Man is a dark bay thoroughbred gelding by Slew City Slew out of L'il Ms. Leonard . He who rose from the lowest levels of race horse claiming races to become regarded by many racing fans and members of the racing media as a legend in his own time...
, Lite Light
Lite Light
Lite Light was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A daughter of Hall of Famer Majestic Prince, Lite Light counts Nearco and Princequillo among her ancestors. She was owned by Jack L. Finley at age two and into the early phases of her three-year-old campaign before being purchased by rap music...
, Sandpit
Sandpit
A sandpit or sandbox is a low, wide container or shallow depression filled with sand in which children can play. Many homeowners with children build sandpits in their backyards because, unlike much playground equipment, they can be easily and cheaply constructed...
, Cara Rafaela
Cara Rafaela
Cara Rafaela is a grey thoroughbred mare born in Kentucky in 1993. She was a Grade 1 winner and the dam of Co World Champion 3-Y-O Colt Bernardini....
, and Relaxed Gesture
Relaxed Gesture
Relaxed Gesture is a thoroughbred racehorse known for winning the $2 million Canadian International Stakes in 2005. A chestnut stallion, he was bred and raced by Walter Haefner's Moyglare Stud Farm...
. He is also the regular rider of seven champions, including Itsallgreektome
Itsallgreektome
Itsallgreektome was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Sired by Sovereign Dancer, who also sired Preakness Stakes winners Gate Dancer and Louis Quatorze, he was out of the mare Sans Supplement, a daughter of Grey Dawn, who was a multiple stakes winner in France.The winner of top stakes...
, Jewel Princess
Jewel Princess
Jewel Princess is an American Thoroughbred Champion filly racehorse and winner of the 1996 Breeders' Cup Distaff. She was voted the Eclipse Award as the 1996 American Champion Older Female Horse. -References:*...
, Lit de Justice
Lit de Justice
Lit de Justice is an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud, and purchased by the French racing operation Mise de Moratalla who named him for a famous Parlement of Paris known as the Lit de justice...
, Possible Perfect, Reraise, Wandesta, and Sweet Catomine.
He is an outstanding golfer who carries a three handicap.
Nakatani's agent is Ron Andersonl.
Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable sortable"|-
!Chart (2000–present)
!Peak
position
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001
| style="text-align:center;"|16
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002
| style="text-align:center;"|28
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003
| style="text-align:center;"|17
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007
| style="text-align:center;"|21
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008
| style="text-align:center;"|72