Christophe Lemaire

A trailblazer-turned multiple champion in Japan, Christophe Lemaire was a brilliant Group 1 rider in France before a downturn in support prompted a career shift that took him to the Japan Racing Association (JRA) full-time in 2015. In the time since, he has established his position as one of the finest jockeys of his era anywhere in the world. He has an enviable collection of Group 1 wins in France, Japan, Britain, the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong, and has carved out an iconic legacy in his adopted home where he is one of the sport’s all-time great jockeys.

What are Christophe Lemaire’s strengths as a jockey?

Christophe Lemaire has everything a great jockey needs. His brilliance is built upon the foundation of being a fine horseman. He loves horses and has an intuitive ability to understand his mounts, to feel what they are telling him before and during a race. He has excellent hands and good balance, which enable him to transmit messages to a horse he is riding while maintaining rhythm. But he also has great tactical awareness and execution, whether that be setting fractions in front or settling a horse back in the pack before unleashing a perfectly-timed surge. His split second decision-making is excellent, and he has also shown many times that he has the strength to make the difference in a driving finish.

What are Christophe Lemaire’s origins?

Christophe-Patrice Lemaire was born in May 1979 just north of Paris in the environs of France’s main training centre, Chantilly. His father, Patrice Lemaire was a top jump jockey in the Paris region, riding for Andre Fabre, and rode more than 500 winners. Lemaire was raised in Chantilly until he was 10 years old and wanted to be a jump jockey like his father, but the family moved to southwest France when his father retired from race riding and he became a little disconnected from the sport. But his interest was sparked again at age 15. He decided to finish his regular education rather than go to jockey school, and started his racing career as an amateur rider before turning professional with the Fabre stable in 1999, at age 19. His first short-term licence to ride in Japan was for three months from December 2002 through March 2, 2003 when he had 15 winners. He cemented his relationship with Japanese racing when he rode Heart’s Cry to win the 2005 G1 Arima Kinen and the 2006 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

As a freelance jockey, back in France, Lemaire had the first Group 1 success of his career aboard Vespone in the 2003 Prix Jean Prat, and in the following two years he hit the headlines in a big way as the ever-present rider of champion filly Divine Proportions. He gained further global exposure when he won the 2011 G1 Melbourne Cup on Dunaden, as a late call-up.

He was retained rider for the Aga Khan for four years until that agreement was not renewed at the end of 2013, and, with big-race opportunities in France drying up through 2014, he shifted his focus to the foothold he had established in Japan where he had the significant support of Shadai Farm’s Tetsuya Yoshida. He and his fellow expatriate jockey Mirco Demuro made history in February 2015 by becoming the first non-Japanese jockeys to pass the JRA (Japan Racing Association) licensing test and each made Japan his home. Lemaire moved to Kyoto with his wife Barbara and two children. His career has since scaled lofty heights of achievement.

What was Christophe Lemaire’s first ride in Japan?

Lemaire’s first ride in Japan was in the second race at Chukyo on December 7, 2002. It was a newcomer race for two-year-olds and he finished 12th of 15 on the Tsutomu Setoguchi-trained Classical Vogue, a horse that in eight career starts only once finished in the first 10.  

What was Christophe Lemaire’s first winner in Japan?

Christophe Lemaire had his first winner the following day, December 8, 2002, at Chukyo. He rode the Hidekazu Asami-trained Yamanin Lotus to win the second race on the card, a two-year-old maiden. That was the only time Lemaire rode the filly and was its only win in 16 starts.

What is Christophe Lemaire’s greatest achievement?

His achievements are mighty and include in 2017 becoming the first non-Japanese JRA champion jockey; defeating the great Yutaka Take’s record for total wins in a season with a new benchmark of 215 in 2018; and equalling Take’s JRA record of riding eight winners in a day, on November 6, 2016. But his biggest achievement is turning around his career by establishing himself in a foreign land, not just as a competitor but also as a dominant all-time great champion: he has won the jockeys’ title seven times, ridden some of Japan’s most storied champions, gained the respect of Japan’s horsemen and race fans alike, earned fame outside of the sport, and made significant wealth in the process.  

Which horse is Christophe Lemaire most famous for riding?

Before Equinox came along, the answer would have been Almond Eye, the great mare on whom he won nine Group 1 races including the Fillies’ Triple Crown, two Japan Cups and the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan. But Equinox’s achievements and his status as the ‘World’s Best Racehorse’ according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)’s rankings, make him the most famous horse Lemaire has ridden.

What is Christophe Lemaire’s most memorable ride?

Lemaire’s most memorable win is the 2023 Dubai Sheema Classic purely for the awesome visuals and the global exposure it received. The image of Equinox’s breathtaking win that night, with Lemaire dictating the whole shape of the race from the front with bold confidence, is the one that is etched in the memories of most racing fans around the world. Vying for recognition, though, is the late, power-packed drive that got Dunaden’s nose in front at the line to win the 2011 Melbourne Cup.

Did you know?

Christophe Lemaire channels his love of horse racing into championing the sport via off-track enterprises. He has his own fashion brand C L by C, which produces a street jockey style with designs inspired by heroes from the track. He has also co-produced a hip-hop album, The Winner’s Circle, featuring a range of artists including West Coast rapper Yung Gritty and his single from the album, Let’s Ride.

Our Favourite Christophe Lemaire Stories

12 May, 2025

中文 日本語 EN

Horse Racing’s New Ideas Meet Same Old Resistance

【與時並進】賽馬新思維與舊阻力

「古い価値観に負けず」ルメール騎手と馬主のスチュワート氏が取り組む、新たな試み

Star jockey Christophe Lemaire and outspoken American owner John Stewart have both put their own money behind efforts to promote horse racing despite the detractors.

星級騎師李慕華（Christophe Lemaire）和敢言的美國馬主John Stewart自資推廣賽馬。

トップジョッキーのクリストフ・ルメール騎手と、馬主のジョン・スチュワート氏。2人に共通するのは、批判を物ともせず、自費を投じた新たな試みで競馬界を変えようとしている点だ。

Michael Cox Read More 閱讀更多 続きを読む

27 Dec, 2024

日本語 EN

Lemaire’s ‘Street Jockey’ Vibe Is Connecting Hip-Hop And Horse Racing

ルメール騎手の「ストリートジョッキー」スタイル、ヒップホップと競馬の架け橋に

The champion rider is backing a new single by Yung Gritty, with an album to follow that will feature artists from hip-hop’s legendary West Coast and East Coast ‘bloodlines’.

日本のチャンピオンジョッキー、ルメール騎手がヤング・グリティの新曲を全面バックアップ。その後にリリースされるアルバムには、ウエストコーストとイーストコーストからヒップホップ界の伝説的な『血統』を受け継ぐアーティストが参加する予定だ。

David Morgan Read More 閱讀更多 続きを読む

31 Mar, 2025

中文 日本語 EN

Dubai To Sydney, Christophe Lemaire Is Taking His Opportunities

【全新體驗】李慕華正把握由杜拜到悉尼的策騎機會

ドバイから再び海外へ、クリストフ・ルメール騎手が45歳でシドニー初参戦

Japan’s champion jockey will ride in Sydney for the first time on April 12 and tells Idol Horse he is at the stage of his career where exciting new experiences become even more important.

日本冠軍騎師李慕華將於 4 月 12 日初次於悉尼上陣，他向《Idol Horse》表示，他現正處於新體驗變得重要的階段。

4月12日、クリストフ・ルメール騎手がシドニー初騎乗の日を迎える。Idol Horseの取材に対し、この年齢を迎えた今こそ、新しい経験が大事だと語ってくれた。

David Morgan Read More 閱讀更多 続きを読む

7 Feb, 2025

中文 日本語 EN

Aga Khan’s “Charisma” And “Aura” Will Be Missed: Lemaire

【德範長存】李慕華懷念阿加汗魅力和靈氣

「威厳、カリスマ、そしてオーラ」アガ・カーン殿下が逝去、ルメール騎手が惜別の思いを語る

One of racing’s biggest owners and a hugely influential breeder, the Aga Khan passed away in Lisbon at age 88 and has left a massive legacy.

阿加汗四世（Aga Khan）是賽馬界大馬主之一，也是極具影響力的育馬者。他日前於里斯本辭世，享年 88 歲，並留下豐厚歷史遺産。

競馬界屈指のオーナーであり、影響力の大きいブリーダーでもあったアガ・カーン殿下がリスボンで88歳で逝去。その功績は計り知れないものだ。

David Morgan Read More 閱讀更多 続きを読む