Trainer Sakae Kunieda has retired at age 70, following racing Feb. 22, reaching the mandatory retirement age for Japan Racing Association trainers.
Kunieda was born on April 14, 1955, in Gifu. While none of his family members were involved in horse racing or horse breeding, he attended Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, studying veterinary medicine and competing in equestrian events.
After many years as an assistant to Akiyoshi Yamazaki, Kunieda started his own stable at Miho Training Center in 1990. Ryu Kamui was his first winner in March 1990, claiming the Chiba Nikke Hai Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse.
Kunieda bows out with 1,121 victories and currently sits 10th amongst the most winning trainers at JRA.
Kunieda has trained 10 grade 1 winners and won 23 grade 1 races. His first grade 1 win came in the 1998 Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama with Black Hawk.
Kunieda won the Japanese Fillies' Triple Tiara for 3-year-olds twice with Apapane in 2010 and Almond Eye in 2018. Almond Eye won nine grade 1s during her illustrious career, including the Dubai Turf (G1T) in 2019, and was crowned JRA Horse of the Year in 2018 and 2020.
His final runner, Sixpence (JPN), finished ninth in the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse Sunday.
