Witolum Pedes
(ウィトルムペデス)

This page uses the old Japanese age notation. For details, see 馬齢#日本における馬齢表記.

Witolum Pedes (欧字名: Witolum Pedes, 1995.3.22 – 1998.11.29) was a Japanese racehorse.

He debuted in 1997 in JRA racing. In his first start, a maiden race that September, he won immediately — and by a massive margin. He then captured back-to-back open-class races in short succession, and at year’s end he claimed the Asahi Hai 3-Year-Old Stakes, completing the year unbeaten at 6–0.

In 1998, he opened the season with another string of wins, entering the Satsuki Sho with a perfect 10–0 record. As talk grew of a potential undefeated Triple Crown, he took the Satsuki Sho convincingly, then quickly added the NHK Mile Cup and the Derby. Still undefeated, he was given a mid-season break.

In autumn, he skipped the Kikuka Sho and instead stepped into the older-horse division, defeating Silence Suzuka in both the Mainichi Okan and the Tenno Sho (Autumn). He stood firmly as Japan’s strongest active racehorse.
However, immediately after winning the Japan Cup by a historic, overwhelming margin, he shattered both front legs just past the finish line. His injuries were declared impossible to treat, and he was humanely euthanized.
Final career record: 17 starts, 17 wins.

Life and Career

Background and Birth

His dam, Grass Step (by Green Grass), required four starts to earn her first victory, but afterward rose through the ranks to become an open-class runner. She was forced into retirement due to leg trouble before she could compete in graded races, and afterward entered broodmare duty at Suematsu Farm in Hidaka Town.

Because she had managed to reach open class, expectations for her as a broodmare were high. In her very first breeding season, she was paired with the rapidly rising Sunday Silence — and conceived on the first cover.

From Birth to Debut

Witolum Pedes was Grass Step’s first foal, and he was born significantly smaller than average. The delivery itself was smooth and caused no strain on the mare, but the newborn colt showed no intention of standing. Not long after birth, he stopped moving entirely, alarming the farm staff — only for the veterinarian to reveal he was simply asleep.
When Grass Step nudged him, he rose with surprising steadiness, as if it were nothing unusual.

Even so, his unusually small frame raised serious doubts about whether he could ever debut. He also showed no interest in other horses and spent most of his time sleeping, leading many to believe his temperament made him unsuited for racing.

Once his training began at the education center, however, his athletic ability proved to be exceptional. He cleared every task with ease. His temperament, on the other hand, remained problematic — if something displeased him, he would simply ignore commands and lie down.

He eventually shipped from the education center to Tatejima Stable at the Miho Training Center, but the long transport from Hokkaido left him severely exhausted. His condition had deteriorated so much that the stable postponed his planned July debut and instead waited for the Nakayama meet to resume.

Racing Career

Age 3 (1997)

Debut – September 6, Nakayama Turf 1600m

With second-year jockey Akira Yokoo aboard, Witolum Pedes was a heavy favorite based on morning training.
From the moment the gates opened, he accelerated so sharply it looked as if he had bolted. He immediately opened a massive lead, running alone through the middle stages. At the 800m mark he was already two seconds ahead of the field — a margin so huge most expected him to collapse late.

He did not.
He continued widening the gap through the final turn and won his debut in overwhelming fashion.

His final time, 1:32.1, set a new 3-year-old record for Nakayama’s 1600m — and, even now, no other 3-year-old has broken 1:32.5 on that course.

The next day’s sports pages hailed him as “a new superstar,” instantly marking him as a Classic contender.

Despite the enormous lead he had built, he showed no signs of fatigue afterward. Because he was prone to running too freely and disliked training, the stable opted to race him frequently rather than rely on morning workouts.

Due to regulations, all horses finishing more than five seconds behind (ten in total) were marked as Time Over, sparking debate.

Second Race – Fuyo Stakes (OP), two weeks later

Held at Nakayama turf 1600m, the same course as his debut.
Because he had resisted training, he entered the race with almost no preparation — yet still went off as an overwhelming favorite.

The stable attempted to settle him near the front, but down the stretch he unleashed a powerful burst and pulled away easily.

After the race, jockey Yokoo said:

"His body is small, so he gets crowded easily. With his temperament, front-running may suit him better."

During cooldown, Witolum Pedes even tried to keep running instead of slowing, forcing Yokoo to haul back on the reins — another clear sign he had plenty in reserve.

Third Race – Ivy Stakes (OP), two weeks later, Tokyo Turf 1400m

Because he refused to train and sometimes wouldn’t even leave his stall, the team chose the nearest race available.

This race included Grass Wonder, who would later earn three consecutive Grand Prix titles. Public support was split between the two.

Yokoo tried desperately to hold Witolum Pedes early, but by the third corner the colt had overpowered him and surged ahead. Yet again, he never slowed. He held off Grass Wonder’s late pursuit to win wire-to-wire.

Fourth Race – Ichiyo Stakes (OP), one-week turnaround

Back again at Tokyo turf 1600m.
Despite concerns that he was being over-raced, he opened another huge early lead and won by a wide margin.

Immediately afterward on the same course, Silence Suzuka — his future rival — ran in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

Fifth Race – Tokyo Sports Hai 3-Year-Old Stakes (GIII)

This race featured King Halo, a future Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner.
Witolum Pedes, unbeaten in four starts, entered as the 1.5x favorite.

He broke slowly, losing roughly three lengths. Boxed in mid-pack with no route forward, Yokoo relaxed him, pulled him wide, and swung him far outside. From the tail of the field, Witolum Pedes mowed down the competition and overtook King Halo in the stretch to claim his first graded title.

The stable was stunned.
Riders in the race reportedly lamented, “The Triple Crown is gone — he’ll take it.”

Sixth Race – Asahi Hai 3-Year-Old Stakes (GI)

He received overwhelming support at 1.4x odds.
Except for Grass Wonder, the second favorite, all other horses carried odds over 50x — essentially a two-horse showdown.

Grass Wonder was the only one able to pursue him, but Witolum Pedes ran a massive front-running race and never yielded, remaining undefeated at 6–0.

He was voted Best 3-Year-Old Colt in the January 1998 JRA Awards.

His relentless dominance from debut onward sparked serious discussion that he might become the first undefeated Triple Crown winner since Symboli Rudolf.

Age 4 (1998)

Season Start – Keisei Hai

With few meaningful rivals and running again at his specialty — Nakayama turf 1600m — he naturally became the overwhelming favorite. He won authoritatively, marking his third straight graded victory.

The stable then announced he would enter the Kyodo News Hai (Kyodo Tsushin Hai), setting up a highly anticipated showdown with top rival El Condor Pasa.

Kyodo News Hai – moved to dirt due to snow

Early-morning snow forced the turf course to close, and the race was transferred to dirt.

This heavily favored El Condor Pasa, who was undefeated on dirt. Some fans of Witolum Pedes even lodged protest calls.

He broke poorly and struggled on the unfamiliar, heavily damaged dirt surface. To avoid bumping other horses, Yokoo guided him wide around the turns — a bold, unconventional strategy. Down the stretch, he ran near the outer rail, losing a significant amount of ground, yet still drew away to win by three lengths over El Condor Pasa.

The victory proved his class, but because he wasn’t genuinely suited for dirt, he never raced on it again.

Next Race – Spring Stakes (Satsuki Sho Trial)

Top contenders such as Special Week were entering the Yayoi Sho, but due to Witolum Pedes’s condition after the Kyodo News Hai, the stable chose the Spring Stakes to give him additional recovery time.

He dominated completely, extending his record to 9–0.
Everyone assumed he would head directly to the Satsuki Sho.

Instead, the stable announced — surprisingly — a one-week turnaround into the Crystal Cup, a 1200m sprint.

Crystal Cup – sudden entry at 1200m

The media heavily criticized the decision.
Running a Classic-distance colt in a sprint graded race only one week before the Satsuki Sho was extremely rare, and the sudden shift from 1800–2000m races to 1200m raised serious concerns about fatigue.

According to the stable, however, after the Kyodo News Hai, Witolum Pedes refused to leave his climate-controlled stall and could not be trained properly. By the time the Spring Stakes arrived, he was under-exercised. Entering a race was intended to tire him slightly so he would not run out of control in the Satsuki Sho.

Trainer Tatejima later admitted that even 1200m had not been quite enough to drain his excess energy.

In the race, Witolum Pedes settled patiently in the early stages and then burst forward in the stretch.
He won by 1.2 seconds — an absurd margin for a short-distance race.

His winning time of 1:07.3 broke the previous record by a full second and nearly matched the Sprinters Stakes record (1:07.1 by Sakura Bakushin O). For a 4-year-old who had been held back mid-race, it was not a normal performance.

A full medical examination was conducted to check for leg strain, but no issues were found, and he was cleared to run in the Satsuki Sho.

Toward an Unconventional Triple Crown Route

In the Satsuki Sho, he was the overwhelming favorite: 1.2 odds to win, and in show wagering he was so heavily backed that the payout simply returned the original stake. Few expressed concerns about the distance jump from the Crystal Cup, and the stable confidently stated, “The question isn’t whether he wins or loses — it’s how he wins.”

On race day, Nakayama Racecourse drew an almost surreal level of excitement, with ninety thousand spectators filling the grounds. Yet Witolum Pedes remained remarkably calm even moments before the race. When the gates opened, he settled into stride alongside Seiun Sky, who also pushed for the lead from an inside post. The two ran parallel in the early stages, and as their duel gradually increased the pace, Seiun Sky eased back, leaving Witolum Pedes alone at the front.

Down the backstretch he extended his advantage to roughly five lengths. Special Week began closing in from the third corner and continued to narrow the gap approaching the stretch — but with a cue from jockey Yokoo, Witolum Pedes instantly accelerated. Leaving Special Week and the rest behind, he captured the first jewel of the Triple Crown in brilliant fashion.

After the race, Yokoo commented:

"We won with plenty left in reserve, which bodes well for the races ahead."

Immediately afterward, the stable announced he would next run in the NHK Mile Cup.

NHK Mile Cup

El Condor Pasa, whom he had faced in the Kyodo News Hai, was also entered — but once again, Witolum Pedes received overwhelming support, with odds dipping below 1.2. The stable dismissed concerns about possible fatigue following the Satsuki Sho, stating it posed no real issue.

At the start, however, he failed to gain early speed and became trapped on the inside behind other horses. The worn-down inner rail seemed unfavorable, yet he suddenly surged forward around the fourth corner, slipped clear of the leading pack, and engaged in a head-to-head duel with El Condor Pasa — a duel he ultimately won.

That victory marked his twelfth consecutive win since debut, firmly suppressing all major contenders of his generation. With two unbeaten speedsters now headed toward overlapping distances, fans began anticipating a showdown between him and the equally dominant Silence Suzuka. At the same time, the unexpectedly intense effort in this race raised fresh concerns about possible fatigue heading into the Derby.

The Japanese Derby

Entering the Tokyo Yushun, he was slightly less favored — 1.4 odds — due to an outside post, the longer distance, and potential residual fatigue from the NHK Mile Cup. No horse went after him to pressure the early runaway he set, allowing him to control the race entirely.

Holding a large lead into the fourth corner and down the stretch, he unexpectedly failed to produce his usual late kick and rapidly decelerated. Special Week and the others surged past him — only for Witolum Pedes to re-accelerate, reclaim the lead, and secure the second jewel of the Triple Crown by half a length.

The sudden drop in speed sparked several theories: injury, distance unsuitability, or even that he mistook the location of the finish line. Jockey Yokoo later explained:

"Normally, Witolum Pedes switches on during the race — he goes from relaxed to sharp in an instant. But in that moment, even though we were still mid-race, it felt like he suddenly slipped back into his usual relaxed mode. Maybe the distance was so long he just got bored of running."

Summer Rest and Facing Older Horses

Originally, the plan was to send him home to pasture for the summer, but concerns about fatigue from long-distance travel led the team to keep him resting at the training center instead. To protect his condition, he was spared hard work and spent most of his rest in a temperature-controlled stall.

His autumn debut would not be a Kikuka Sho trial but his first race against older horses: the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap. Although a handicap race, the stable viewed it as a good opportunity to build his body for the upcoming autumn schedule. Even carrying an imposing top weight of 63 kg, he surged to the lead and held it to the finish.

His next target was the GII Mainichi Okan.

Mainichi Okan

The stable had decided not to aim for the Kikuka Sho but instead for the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Training for long-distance transport during the summer had gone poorly, and the Derby performance raised doubts about extending his distance further. They considered transporting him west in stages through multiple short trips, but Witolum Pedes resisted staying in unfamiliar stables, and the team concluded that repeated relocations would be too stressful.

The Mainichi Okan is ideally timed and distanced for horses heading to the Tenno Sho (Autumn) or the Mile Championship, and it frequently becomes a high-level contest among top older horses. That year, Silence Suzuka — still on a winning streak and aiming for the Tenno Sho — had already declared entry. It would be Witolum Pedes’s first sudden clash with the top older runner fresh off his Takarazuka Kinen victory. Though the field was small, heavyweights like El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder were also entered, earning the race the nickname “the greatest GII in history.”

On race day, Tokyo Racecourse saw an extraordinary turnout of more than 150,000 spectators.
With his debut against older horses, Silence Suzuka was considered slightly favored: 1.6 odds to Witolum Pedes’s 1.9, forming a clear two-horse rivalry. This would be the only race in Witolum Pedes’s career in which he started as the second favorite.

When the race began, both Silence Suzuka and Witolum Pedes immediately launched into a massive dual runaway. Witolum Pedes settled directly behind Silence Suzuka, marking him tightly. The two ran side-by-side entering the fourth corner, locked in an intense contest, but in the stretch Witolum Pedes found an extra gear and pulled away.

Jockey Yokoo later remarked:

"Silence Suzuka set a really good pace up front, which let us enter the fourth corner with plenty of stamina left. That was the biggest reason we were able to win."

With this victory, the stable officially announced he would skip the Kikuka Sho and proceed directly to the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Forgoing the third leg of the Triple Crown despite being undefeated was unprecedented, and the decision drew heavy criticism from fans who had been hoping for the feat.

Tenno Sho (Autumn)

Silence Suzuka, Mejiro Bright, Stay Gold, and the other major contenders of the older division all assembled, yet due to his victory over Silence Suzuka in the previous race, Witolum Pedes was strongly supported as the favorite. Though Silence Suzuka briefly overtook him as the top pick, betting ultimately closed with Witolum Pedes back on top.

Many expected another head-to-head runaway between the two, but Witolum Pedes stumbled at the start. The stadium erupted in gasps as Silence Suzuka charged out alone, setting a blistering pace. Down the backstretch, Yokoo maneuvered through traffic to push forward into second place—already nearly twenty lengths ahead of the main pack. He continued to press, using even more energy to pull alongside Silence Suzuka by the third corner.

As they entered the home stretch, Silence Suzuka suddenly weakened. A later examination revealed that he had already fractured his left hind leg during the run. With Silence Suzuka slowing at his side, Witolum Pedes accelerated again, drew clear, and captured the Tenno Sho.

After the race, Silence Suzuka’s injury and upcoming rest were announced. Meanwhile, Witolum Pedes appeared healthy upon examination, but concerns were raised about his skeletal structure—specifically, that excessive force was being placed on his carpal bones. Because no suitable goals existed for him in the spring, and his value as a stallion was already assured, the stable began considering retirement after the Arima Kinen, intending to finalize and announce the decision following the Japan Cup.

Around the time of the Tenno Sho, Witolum Pedes also stopped resisting training. Trainer Tateshima commented, "It’s like his mind has finally matured to that of a typical three-year-old."

Japan Cup

The Japan Cup featured not only the horses who had run in the Autumn Tenno Sho, but also competitors like Air Groove, Special Week, and El Condor Pasa. However, both four-year-olds had already been defeated by Witolum Pedes, and Air Groove herself had just lost the Queen Elizabeth II Cup to Mejiro Dober. As a result, Witolum Pedes was widely expected to win. As for the foreign entrants, the unfamiliar environment was considered a disadvantage, and none were thought capable of beating Witolum Pedes in his current form. His win odds sat at an overwhelming 1.1, reflecting the public’s absolute confidence. Even his camp openly showed their assurance—there was, quite literally, no visible reason for him to lose.

When the race began, Witolum Pedes burst from the gate with an exceptionally sharp start. He immediately opened up a gap with his trademark runaway style, already seven lengths ahead by the first corner. Jockey Yokoo tried to rein him in, but his pace simply wouldn’t slow. If anything, he maintained it—or even accelerated. By the third corner, the lead stretched to more than twenty lengths. As they entered the fourth corner and the pack behind began their chase, the gap only widened further. The performance was so overwhelming that applause rose even before he reached the finish line. Still accelerating, Witolum Pedes crossed the finish board at top speed.

Moments later, however, he fractured his right leg, slammed into the inner rail, bounced off, and after stumbling forward about ten strides, lost balance and fell. He was later diagnosed as having no chance of recovery and was humanely euthanized.

Because the accident occurred after he had crossed the finish, his win was officially recognized. His time of 2:20.0 shattered the previous record by 2.2 seconds, and even more than twenty years later, it remains the world record for 2400 meters. There had been concern that some horses might be barred from entering the Arima Kinen due to time-over regulations, but the stewards ultimately ruled that no penalties would be issued.

Jockey Yokoo, who had been thrown just before the fall, survived without life-threatening injuries. However, he tore his right ACL, an injury that ultimately led to his retirement from riding.

Racing Record

1997/09/06, Nakayama, 3-Year-Old Maiden, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1600m
1997/09/20, Nakayama, OP, Fuyo Stakes, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1600m
1997/10/12, Tokyo, OP, Ivy Stakes, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1400m
1997/10/26, Tokyo, OP, Ichou Stakes, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1600m
1997/11/15, Tokyo, GⅢ, Tokyo Sports Hai 3-Year-Old Stakes, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1800m
1997/12/07, Nakayama, GⅠ, Asahi Hai 3-Year-Old Stakes, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1600m
1998/01/11, Nakayama, GⅢ, Keisei Cup, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1600m
1998/02/15, Tokyo, Stakes Race, Kyodo News Hai, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Dirt 1600m
1998/03/22, Nakayama, GⅡ, Spring Stakes, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1800m
1998/04/05, Nakayama, GⅢ, Crystal Cup, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1200m
1998/04/19, Nakayama, GⅠ, Satsuki Sho, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 2000m
1998/05/17, Tokyo, GⅠ, NHK Mile Cup, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1600m
1998/06/07, Tokyo, GⅠ, Tokyo Yushun, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 2400m
1998/09/13, Nakayama, GⅢ, Keisei Cup Autumn Handicap, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1600m
1998/10/11, Tokyo, GⅡ, Mainichi Okan, 2nd Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 1800m
1998/11/01, Tokyo, GⅠ, Tenno Sho Autumn, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 2000m
1998/11/29, Tokyo, GⅠ, Japan Cup, 1st Favorite, 1st Place, Turf 2400m

Posthumous Events

Since the accident occurred immediately after the race in full view of the crowd, many spectators attempted to cross the railing and enter the turf course, but all were restrained.

The reason his leg shattered just after the finish is believed to be that his bones could not withstand the extreme speed he reached in the final stretch. In previous races, he had always finished before reaching full acceleration, but in this instance, he continued to accelerate down a long straightaway, ignoring the horses behind him, ultimately exceeding the structural limits of his bones.

Even twenty years later, no horse ran the Japan Cup faster than 2:21 until a winning time of 2:20.6 appeared, and his 2:20.0 remains recognized as an untouchable benchmark in modern high-speed racing. At the same time, it is often cited as a prime example of the physical limits of racehorses, demonstrating how further increases in speed can cause irreparable damage. This record, however, was achieved by taking a safe lead and then accelerating even further—testament to Witolum Pedes’ obsessive drive for speed.

Characteristics as a Racehorse

Physical Attributes

Throughout his career, he weighed around 420 kg, making him exceptionally small even among racehorses. This often put him at a disadvantage in physical clashes with other horses, and he generally struggled in crowded fields, contributing to his preference for leading or running far ahead of the pack.

Despite his small size, he possessed extraordinary cardiovascular capacity. Even after races he won by large margins, his breathing remained calm. Many experts believed this would allow him to perform as a stayer, and at one point, there were plans to run him in the Stayers Stakes to attempt victories over all distances. His heart and lung capacity enabled his devastating sustained speed, allowing him to maintain top pace for extended periods. He was said to run the mile at sprinter speed and middle distances at mile pace—possible only because of his exceptional oxygen efficiency.

While he struggled with timing out of the gate, his acceleration was strong enough that even a poor start could be recovered almost immediately.

Mental Attributes

According to trainer Tateshima, he was not a horse suited to typical race training. Most racehorses, however temperamental, are trained to respond to human commands. Witolum Pedes, however, saw humans not as commanders but as caretakers. When given orders during training, he wasn’t just displeased—he was genuinely surprised. Striking him with a whip completely crushed his motivation, sometimes causing him to lie down on the spot. This made conventional training difficult, and as a result, he was properly “conditioned” only for the Japan Cup.

Fortunately, during races, if another horse was in his line of sight, he would instinctively overtake it, preventing erratic behavior. However, he often failed to fully comprehend jockey commands and could run uncontrollably even when restrained. He lacked competitive grit, but since it was rarely required, this never became a practical issue.

Episodes

He was sensitive to summer heat, and after air conditioning was installed in his stall, he strongly resisted summer training. For a while, the only exception was pool training, which he tolerated—though eventually, even that bored him.

He was notoriously averse to training, especially after beginning his racing career. He would often refuse to move entirely, but since he consistently performed and won in races, his handlers could not push him too hard in training, effectively making racing itself the primary source of his exercise.

He disliked movement so much that even when turned out to pasture, he often stayed near the entrance, ending his turnout without walking around. In his stall, he rarely moved, often gesturing for grooms to bring feed directly to his mouth.