Tokai Teio

Tokai Teio
トウカイテイオー
Tokai Teio in retirement
BreedThoroughbred
SireSymboli Rudolf
GrandsirePartholon
DamTokai Natural
DamsireNice Dancer
SexStallion
Foaled(1988-04-20)April 20, 1988
DiedAugust 30, 2013(2013-08-30) (aged 25)
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederNagahama Farm
OwnerMasanori Uchimura
Racing colours
TrainerShouichi Matsumoto
Jockey
Record12: 9-0-0
Earnings¥625,633,500
Major wins
Sankei Ōsaka Hai (1992)
Japan Cup (1992)
Arima Kinen (1993)
Japanese Classic Race wins:
Satsuki Sho (1991)
Tokyo Yushun (1991)
Awards
Japanese Horse of the Year (1991)
JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1991)
Best Horse By Home-bred Sire (1991)
JRA Special Award (1993)
Honours
Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame (1995)

Tokai Teio (Japanese: トウカイテイオー, Hepburn: Toukai Teiō; April 20, 1988 – August 30, 2013) was a champion Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1991, he won the Satsuki Sho and the Tokyo Yushun, and was the 1991 Japanese Horse of the Year. He then won the 1992 Japan Cup where champion horses like the European Horse of the Year and the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year participated. After being sidelined with a leg injury for a whole year (364 days), he won the Arima Kinen in 1993. Tokai Teio was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

Background

Tokai Teio was a bay horse bred by Masanori Uchimura. He was from the first crop of foals sired by triple crown winner Symboli Rudolf. His dam Tokai Natural was an unraced daughter of Nice Dancer and a half-sister to Yushun Himba winner Tokai Roman who became a broodmare due to foot problems. Both mares descend from the pre-war Tokyo Yushun winner Hisatomo.

Masanori Uchimura initially planned to breed Tokai Roman, who was supposed to retire after the Niigata Daishoten to Symboli Rudolf. After finishing the race second, it was decided that she would race for another year. Tokai Natural was bred with Symboli Rudolf instead.

Tokai Teio was foaled on April 20, 1988, at the Nagahama Ranch in Niikappu, Hokkaido. Immediately after birth, he was referred to as「帝王」"Teio", meaning monarch, referring to his sire Symboli Rudolf's nickname「皇帝」"Koutei", meaning emperor. Thus, the foal was named Hamano Teio. Teio had long legs and a delicate frame and did not receive high valuations. However, once he started exercising, his flexible movement became apparent, garnering expectations. In October the following year, Teio was transferred to the Nibutani Training Center in Biratori, Hokkaido where his flexibility and competitive spirit was highly received. Teio would remain at Nibutani for an entire year until reaching the racing age of 3 years in October 1990, after which he entered the Rittō Training Center in Rittō, Shiga under trainer Shoichi Matsumoto. Teio's racing name was registered as Tokai Teio.

During training, Tokai Teio was outstanding on the ramp course where horses with long strides are not supposed to record good times, giving Matsumoto high expectations. Believing Teio to have a chance in the Japanese Triple Crown, Matsumoto backcalculated from the Satsuki Shō and Tokyo Yūshun and planned a schedule with leeway. Furthermore, Teio's farrier was surprised at the flexibility of his joints, saying to his groom that "the derby horse has arrived".

Racing career

1990: two-year-old-season

Tokai Teio made his debut in a 1800-meter maiden race on 1 December at the Chukyo Racecourse, which was selected to simulate a left-handed track similar to the Tokyo Racecourse. Ridden by Takayuki Yasada, who had ridden Teio in pre-race training along with other horses trained by Matsumoto, Tokai Teio was the favorite to win the race after its performance in training. Despite a tight course that favored front-runners, Tokai Teio started at the end of the pack and gradually made his way to the inside towards the front on the final straight, where he would win by four lengths. After his debut race win, he was registered for the open-grade 2,000-meter Cyclamen Stakes at the Kyoto Racecourse on 23 December. As the third-ranked favorite, Tokai Teio again was at the back of the pack to start the race. He went on to gradually go to the front, overtaking first-ranked favorite Iide Satan on the fourth corner and holding the lead to win the race by 2 lengths.

1991: three-year-old season

Tokai Teio's began his three-year-old season by winning the 2,000-meter Wakagoma Stakes. He followed it with a victory in the 2,000-meter Wakaba stakes.

Satsuki Shō

Tokai Teio entered the Satsuki Shō as the favorite with the odds of 2.1. He broke from post position 18, initially took the lead on the outside then settling in the 7th and 8th place. He then moved forward at the third corner and took the lead in the homestretch, winning by a length over Shako Grade.

Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby)

Undefeated from 5 starts, Tokai Teio entered the Tōkyō Yūshun as the favorite with the odds of 1.6. He broke from post position 20, initially settling in the 6th position, he then broke out of the field from the far outside and took the lead in the homestretch, winning by three lengths over Leo Durban.

Three days after the race, a fracture was found in his left hind leg which required a full recovery period of six months. This prevented him from entering in the Kikuka Sho, denying him from completing the Triple Crown.

1992: four-year-old season

He made his comeback at the Sankei Osaka Hai in April, ten months after his injury at the Tokyo Yushun. In this race, he managed to extend his win streak to seven as he won this race comfortably with his new jockey, Yukio Okabe did not need to use his whip. This good preparation set up a battle of the century with a horse who was the defending champion of the Tenno Sho (Spring), Mejiro McQueen, jockeyed by Yutaka Take. In this race, both horses actually had a good run until the final corner, when Tokai Teio struggled to hold the ground; Mejiro McQueen launched his final acceleration in the straight to win the race whilst Tokai Teio finished in fifth. Ten days after the race, he was diagnosed with a second fracture of his career in his left foreleg that would subsided him for several months.

The horse made a comeback in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October. Despite mostly running on the front group at all corners, he faded out in the homestretch and only came home in seventh behind Let's Go Tarquin. After the race, Okabe commented, "Since he fractured his leg twice, it might be unreasonable to expect him to have the same leg he had at age four." Despite that suspicious remark by the jockey, Tokai Teio proved otherwise in his next race, the Japan Cup. As the fifth favourite, he moved to the outside track from the middle pack, dueled with the Oceanian's ace, Naturalism in the straight, and came up as the winner by a neck on the line. He ended up his season with a run at the Arima Kinen, in which he was unfit, slipped his hindquarters at the starting gate, ran mostly at the back and suffered a crushing defeat by finishing in 11th.

1993: five-year-old season

He was diagnosed with a back injury after the poor run at the Arima Kinen, which caused him to miss the early campaign of the spring half. He was prepared to resume his campaign at the Takarazuka Kinen this year. Unfortunately, a third avulsion fracture in his left foreleg was found, and his return was postponed again. He eventually made a comeback at the penultimate race of the season, the Arima Kinen once again, 364 days after the previous iteration of the same race.

Normally, having a third fracture usually was a death sentence for the horseracing career. For the second time in his career, Tokai Teio proved otherwise as he settled calmly in the middle pack, produced a sustained late run, dueling with the first favorite, Biwa Hayahide in the homestretch and won his fourth G1 title by half a length over Biwa Hayahide. The announcer call for the race was epic due to how unbelievable that result was:

"Tokai Teio is coming!, Tokai Teio is coming!, Tokai Teio is coming! Tokai Teio! a miraculous comeback!"

He was scheduled to continue racing the next year. but he suffered a fourth fracture in his left foreleg, leading to his retirement. His retirement ceremony was held on 23 October 1994 at Tokyo Racecourse.

Honours

Tokai Teio was inducted as the 23rd member of the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

Stud career

Tokai Teio with his stablehand in his retirement years

Following his retirement from racing in October 1994, Tokai Teio was sent to Shadai Stallion Station where he assumed stud duties. His notable descendants include:

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g= gelding
Bold = G1/Jpn1 stakes

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
1996 Taiki Polar f Mermaid Stakes
1996 Tokai Point g Nakayama Kinen, Mile Championship
1996 Tokai Pulsar c Aichi Hai
1999 Strong Blood c Kabutoyama Kinen, Sakurambo Kinen, Gunma Kinen, Kashiwa Kinen
2001 Yamanin Sucre f Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Nakayama Himba Stakes

Death

Memorial of Tokai Teio at the Hanshin Racecourse in 2013

On 30 August 2013 at 3.30 p.m., Tokai Teio died due to acute heart failure at Shadai Stallion Station. He was 25 years old. A memorial stand was erected at all major racecourses in Japan a week after he was passed.

A cosplayer of Tokai Teio from Umamusume: Pretty Derby giving a heart arm gesture.

You know, after all...for something to remain so vividly in your memory...it's already been 20-something years for me, and now, in this way, in all sorts of games...for the story of Tokai Teio to be gaining this much popularity...even after he has passed away, the fact that children who have since been born play a game and have come to know who Tokai Teio is...it was a happy moment, wasn't it...that instant when I realized it. It's a feeling of "thank you," isn't it? Really...I just want to say thank you, Tokai Teio.

— Seiki Tabara

An anthropomorphized version of Tokai Teio appears as a character in the Japanese multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Machico. She is depicted as a cheerful and talented girl who craves attention and has a deep admiration for Symboli Rudolf, Tracen Academy's student council president, and makes it her mission to emulate her success by obtaining the Triple Crown, a reference to Symboli Rudolf being Tokai Teio's sire. Like her real-life counterpart, she suffers multiple injuries and struggles to remain one of the best racers. She has a notable dislike for medical check-ups, with a particularly strong fear of the Mejiro family's doctor introduced to her by Mejiro McQueen. She is the main protagonist of the second season of the Umamusume anime alongside McQueen, which follows her real-life counterpart's racing career. The 1993 Arima Kinen is portrayed in the anime second season finale, "Galloping After Our Dreams", and also incorporates the actual words of the broadcast call.

Racing record

Date Age Track Name Grade Field Finished Jockey Distance Time Winner (2nd Place)
Dec 1, 1990 2 Chukyo Two-year-old Newcomer 13 1st Takayuki Yasuda 1800m 1:52.9 (Color Guard)
Dec 23, 1990 2 Kyoto Cyclamen Stakes OP 9 1st Takayuki Yasuda 2000m 2:03.8 (Iide Satan)
Jan 19, 1991 3 Kyoto Wakakoma Stakes OP 9 1st Takayuki Yasuda 2000m 2:01.4 (Iide Satan)
Mar 17, 1991 3 Nakayama Wakaba Stakes OP 10 1st Takayuki Yasuda 2000m 2:03.6 (Asakichi)
Apr 14, 1991 3 Nakayama Satsuki Shō G1 18 1st Takayuki Yasuda 2000m 2:01.8 (Shako Grade)
May 26, 1991 3 Tokyo Tōkyō Yūshun G1 20 1st Takayuki Yasuda 2400m 2:25.9 (Leo Durban)
Apr 5, 1992 4 Hanshin Sankei Ōsaka Hai G2 8 1st Yukio Okabe 2000m 2:06.3 (Golden Hour)
Apr 26, 1992 4 Kyoto Tenno Sho (Spring) G1 14 5th Yukio Okabe 3200m 3:21.7 Mejiro McQueen
Nov 1, 1992 4 Tokyo Tenno Sho (Autumn) G1 18 7th Yukio Okabe 2000m 1:59.1 Let's Go Tarquin
Nov 29, 1992 4 Tokyo Japan Cup G1 14 1st Yukio Okabe 2400m 2:24.6 (Naturalism)
Dec 27, 1992 4 Nakayama Arima Kinen G1 14 11th Seiki Tabara 2500m 2:34.8 Mejiro Palmer
Dec 26, 1993 5 Nakayama Arima Kinen G1 14 1st Seiki Tabara 2500m 2:30.9 (Biwa Hayahide)

Pedigree

Pedigree of Tokai Teio (JPN), bay stallion, 1988
Sire
Symboli Rudolf (JPN)
B. 1981		 Partholon Milesian My Babu
Oatflake
Paleo Pharis
Colonice
Sweet Luna Speed Symboli Royal Challenger
Sweet Inn
Dance Time Palestine
Samaritaine
Dam
Tokai Natural (JPN)
B. 1982		 Nice Dancer Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Nice Princess Le Beau Prince
Happy Night
Tokai Midori Faberge Princely Gift
Spring Offensive
Tokai Queen Atlantis
Top Ryu (F-No.19-b)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Tokai Roman retired in 1988 and bred with Symboli Rudolf, producing the colt Tokai Thames, who retired without winning.
  2. ↑ 「繋」vaguely means "connection", interpreted at "joints"

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 江面 2017, p. 218.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kawamura, Kyoaki (October 2015). "４度もの骨折を経験し そのうち３度復活を果たした" [The Emperor Who Made Resurrections Many Times Tokai Teio and Miracles]. 優駿 WEB (in Japanese). pp. 1–4. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  3. ↑ 『優駿』2013年6月号、p.83
  4. 1 2 3 4 『優駿』2005年12月号、p.41
  5. ↑ 『名馬列伝トウカイテイオー』, p. 77.
  6. ↑ 吉川 2003, p. 40.
  7. ↑ 『優駿』1991年8月号、p.12
  8. ↑ 『トウカイテイオー栄光の蹄跡』p.62
  9. ↑ 『トウカイテイオー栄光の蹄跡』p.47
  10. ↑ 『優駿』1991年7月号、p.84
  11. ↑ 『優駿』2013年6月号、p.84
  12. ↑ 清明, 河村 (June 2013). "優駿激闘譜 トウカイテイオー "皇帝"が送り出した"帝王"". 『優駿』. pp. 82–89.
  13. ↑ 瀬戸, 慎一郎 (October 1996). "今、明かす真実"帝王神話"の謎に迫る――". 『競馬最強の法則』. pp. 59–73.
  14. 1 2 "週刊100名馬 Vol.23 トウカイテイオー". 産業経済新聞社. No. Gallop臨時増刊. 2001. p. 12.
  15. 1 2 3 "Tokai Teio: The Brilliant Champion Who Always Came Back". Netkeiba. March 19, 2026. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  16. ↑ 瀬戸慎一郎 (1995). 水晶の脚 トウカイテイオー―ターフの伝説. 三心堂出版社. p. 34. ISBN 4883420019.
  17. ↑ 光栄出版部 編 (1994). 名馬列伝 トウカイテイオー. 光栄. pp. 22–23. ISBN 4877191747.
  18. 1 2 Tokyo Sports Press (September 24, 2025). "Looking Back at Tokai Teio, the "Unconquerable Emperor" Heroine of the Anime "Uma Musume," in Tokyo Sports". Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kawai, Chikara (24 May 2022). "ウマ娘でも快走の奇跡の名馬・トウカイテイオー。皇帝と帝王、父子の物語" [Even in Uma Musume, the miraculous racehorse Tokai Teio shines. The story of an emperor and a king, father and son]. 集英社 スポルティーバ 公式サイト web Sportiva (in Japanese). pp. 1–4. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  20. ↑ 武豊の伝説＆名言 昭和から平成、令和まで日本競馬を彩ったスーパースターの足跡をプレーバック [Yutaka Take's Legends & Famous Quotes: A Look Back at the Footsteps of the Superstar Who Graced Japanese Horse Racing from the Showa to the Heisei and Reiwa Eras]. 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 12 July 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) Full Result | R10". netkeiba. 1 November 1992. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  22. ↑ "Japan Cup (G1) Full Result | R10". netkeiba. 29 November 1992. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  23. 1 2 奇跡を起こした気高き「帝王」| トウカイテイオー [The noble "emperor" who performed a miracle | Tokai Teio]. prc.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "Arima Kinen (The 38th Grand Prix) (G1) Full Result | R9". netkeiba. 26 December 1993. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  25. 1 2 3 4 トウカイテイオー [Tokai Teio]. uma-furusato.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  26. ↑ 【优骏】不屈的帝王，四次骨折依旧辉煌！ [[Outstanding Steed] The Indomitable Champion: Still Shining Brightly Despite Four Fractures!]. www.horsechinaone.com (in Chinese). 13 March 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  27. ↑ "Record | Stallion Report | Tokai Teio (JPN)". jbis.jp. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  28. ↑ Shimada, Akihiro (7 September 2013). 弾むように歩き、勝った奇跡の名馬—ト ウカイテイオー、天に召される. [The legendary racehorse Tokai Teio, who walked with a spring in his step and won races, has passed away.]. Number Web - ナンバー (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  29. ↑ トウカイテイオーが生んだGI馬、ヤマニンシュクルの仔が土曜阪神デビュー/新馬戦 [Yamanin Sucré, a GI winner sired by Tokai Teio, will make her debut at Hanshin on Saturday in a maiden race.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 5 September 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  30. ↑ 【ウマ娘風競馬MAD】第38回GⅠ有馬記念(1993) [[Umamusume-style Horse Racing MAD] 1993 Arima Kinen (G1) [Tokai Teio]] (Video – Broadcast rendering) (in Japanese and English). Event occurs at 10:51. Archived from the original on March 14, 2025. Retrieved September 6, 2025 – via YouTube.
  31. ↑ "トウカイテイオー｜ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト｜Cygames". ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-10-27.
  32. ↑ Machico; Studio Kai (March 30, 2021). Miracle Run – Umamusume: Pretty Derby Season 2 (Video - Anime clip) (in Japanese and English). Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved September 6, 2025 – via YouTube.

References

  • 江面, 弘也 (2017). 名馬を読む (in Japanese). 三賢社. ISBN 4908655073.
  • 吉川, 良 (2003). 人生をくれた名馬たち (in Japanese). 毎日コミュニケーションズ. ISBN 4839912270.