Oldest living JRA graded stakes winner, Nice Nature passes away at 35
Tuesday, 30 May, 2023 18:46
Nice Nature (photo by netkeiba.com user Hanako Nishino)
NPO Retirement Horse Association released a statement that Nice Nature passed away on May 30th. A popular racehorse known for his many performances as a supporting act in his racing career, he was 35 years old, which made him the oldest living JRA graded stakes winner.
By Nice Dancer out of the Habitony mare Urakawa Miyuki, Nice Nature earned a career record of 41 starts with 7 victories, including 4 graded stakes wins. He debuted in 1990 under trainer Yoshiharu Matsunaga at Ritto Training Center. In his Classic year at three he won three graded stakes races: the Kokura Kinen, Kyoto Shimbun Hai, and Naruo Kinen. Despite finishing third in the Arima Kinen for three consecutive years, he faced a series of near-misses in his later career. However, at the age of six, he secured his elite-level victory, after 17 defeats, by winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. His total career earnings amounted to 623,586,000 yen.
After retiring from racing in 1996, Nice Nature became a stallion at the Hidaka Stallion Station starting in 1997. His most notable progeny, Saint Nature, achieved three wins in JRA races. In 1999, Nice Nature was also chosen as the campaign character when quinella betting tickets were introduced. After he retired from stallion duties in 2001, he spent his retirement years at his birthplace of Watanabe Farm as a foster horse for the certified NPO Retirement Horse Association.
By Nice Dancer out of the Habitony mare Urakawa Miyuki, Nice Nature earned a career record of 41 starts with 7 victories, including 4 graded stakes wins. He debuted in 1990 under trainer Yoshiharu Matsunaga at Ritto Training Center. In his Classic year at three he won three graded stakes races: the Kokura Kinen, Kyoto Shimbun Hai, and Naruo Kinen. Despite finishing third in the Arima Kinen for three consecutive years, he faced a series of near-misses in his later career. However, at the age of six, he secured his elite-level victory, after 17 defeats, by winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. His total career earnings amounted to 623,586,000 yen.
After retiring from racing in 1996, Nice Nature became a stallion at the Hidaka Stallion Station starting in 1997. His most notable progeny, Saint Nature, achieved three wins in JRA races. In 1999, Nice Nature was also chosen as the campaign character when quinella betting tickets were introduced. After he retired from stallion duties in 2001, he spent his retirement years at his birthplace of Watanabe Farm as a foster horse for the certified NPO Retirement Horse Association.