Hiroki Goto, one of the leading riders in Japan, will make
Monmouth Park his base of operations for the next 60 days, riding mainly for
trainer Wesley Ward.
Goto, 37, arrived at Monmouth Thursday, but does not have a
mount here this weekend. He is riding Ward-trained horses in three races at
Woodbine on Saturday, and in two races at Arlington Park
on Sunday.
Goto, who was the leading jockey by wins in Japan in 2007,
has ridden more than 1,300 career winners and took this year’s running of the
Japan Oaks. He will be represented by agent Bob Klesaris during his stay here.
This will be Goto’s second stint in the United States. He
spent a season riding here 15 years ago, racing at Calder, Philadelphia
and Delaware.
“I learned a new style of riding, a different style,” Goto
said, “and I enjoyed it. I always knew I wanted to come back. I met Wesley when
he came to Japan several years ago. When I wanted to reacquaint myself with
American racing, Wesley gave me the chance.”
Goto, easily spotted because of the bright orange boots he
favors, will ride Ward-trained horses at tracks around the country, including
Monmouth, before he goes home for the major fall racing in Japan. Racing in Japan is very lucrative, with enormous purses
for most races, but Goto says he’s happy to be back in the U.S.
“There’s big money in Japan,” he said, “but in the U.S.,
there are big dreams.”