Top jockey's tribute to superstar racehorse as champion's grave is officially opened to public

A top jockey delivered a heartfelt tribute to a champion racehorse who died after suffering a fatal injury while racing in Hong Kong.

Liberty Island made history in 2023 when she won the equivalent of Japanese racing’s Triple Crown, landing the Japanese 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and the Shuka Sho, which is known as the Triple Tiara.

She campaigned on the international stage, finishing third in the Dubai Sheema Classic and second behind Romantic Warrior in the 2024 Hong Kong Cup.

She returned to Hong Kong in April as one of the leading challengers for the Group 1 QE II Cup, yet during the race she stumbled and broke down in the straight.

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Her distressed rider Yuga Kawada dismounted and stood holding the mare tightly as vets and track staff arrived to assist. However her injuries were so serious that the decision was taken to euthanize her.

In a subsequent post Kawada told fans, “I’m sorry she had the worst ending. I am so sorry I took Liberty away from you all.”

Kawada rode Liberty Island in all 12 of her races helping the mare to five wins which earned more than £6 million in prize-money.

She was so popular in Japan that her owner installed a gravestone at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido, where she was buried.

At the ceremony on Wednesday, where guests laid flowers, Kawada said: "There are only a handful of horses that can have a grave like this built. I hope the fans will be able to come and see her whenever they want. I am very grateful that she will be able to remain in such a beautiful space.

"She was the most special horse, so I will never be able to come to terms with it, but as a jockey I have no choice but to accept it and move on. It is our role to pass on the many things that Liberty left behind to the next generation, and as jockeys I just have to cherish each and every race."