scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted August 11, 2022 Sam's touching tribute for popular jockey Taiki Yanagida Queensland jockey Sam Collett, touching a black arm band to honour her mate, jockey Taiki Yanagida, who died this week from injuries sustained in a race fall in New Zealand. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography By Ben Dorries 01:08pm • 11 August 2022 Group 1-winning rider Samantha Collett has paid a moving tribute to her great mate and fellow jockey Taiki Yanagida, saying "he just wanted to do his family proud". Collett wore a black arm band when riding at Doomben on Wednesday and touched the arm band and her heart when she returned after winning on Chris Waller-trained galloper Otyrar. They were emotional scenes in tribute to Japanese rider Yanagida who passed away in New Zealand earlier this week from injuries sustained in a race fall at Cambridge last week. Collett, who won three Group 1s in her Kiwi homeland before relocating permanently to Queensland last year, was great mates with Yanagida in New Zealand. Collett was a mentor to Yanagida on and off the track, often driving him to the races where they would talk about riding and life in general. Samantha Collett touches her heart and black arm band when returning on winner Otyrar at Doomben on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Shattered by his death, Collett said Yanagida’s simple riding desire was to make his family in Japan proud. “It was a big thing for him to honour his family,” Collett told Racenet. “He was doing it for his family in Japan, to make them proud. “I know they would have been proud of him. “His death is so hard for me to get my head around. “I saw him about three weeks ago when I went back to New Zealand and I never thought it was going to be the last time I was going to see him. “I know how hard this has hit everyone at home (in New Zealand). “What has been hard for me at this time is being away from my New Zealand racing family.” Yanagida’s family rushed from Japan to be by his side after the fall but he tragically succumbed to his injuries this week. Collett remembers the good times with the “polite and hardworking young jockey”. “He started his New Zealand apprenticeship in Matamata, where I lived,” Collett said. “We formed a good bond, as you do with the rest of your riding comrades, but Taiki always came to me for advice about life and riding. Taiki Yanagida sadly succumbed to his injuries after a race fall in New Zealand. “I loved taking him to the races and we would chat away, we would spend hours together. “I used to drive past his house quite a lot, I couldn’t get in and out of town any other way, so quite often he would ask for a lift to the races. “The last conversation I had was when I went home, three weeks ago, he had a chat to me. “He was struggling getting momentum going from being an apprentice to becoming a senior rider. “He said he was hoping to have a long chat with me and I never really got the chance. “I messaged him afterwards and said these are my (Australian contact) numbers and make sure you call me. “He then sent me this lovely, long message picking my brains about how to keep focused as a jockey.” Yanagida, 28, was first jockey to die in a race fall in New Zealand since Rebecca Black at Gore in December, 2016. Yanagida, known to plenty in the racing industry as Tiger, was born and raised in Japan and didn’t start riding until he was 18, firstly in Australia before moving to New Zealand. RIP Taiki Yanagida. TARANTULA, JJ Flash, Hedley Jordan and 6 others 8 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted August 11, 2022 A memorial service will be held for Taiki next Monday 15th August at 1pm at the Matamata Racecourse...everyone is welcome to attend. Black Kirrama and Pegasus 9 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissJools 465 Report post Posted August 12, 2022 Taiki Yanagida's memorial service will be live streamed on Tab NZ's youtube channel scheduled to start at 12:45pm. Memphis3, Patiti, JJ Flash and 3 others 4 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted August 13, 2022 Nice article on Taiki here worth a read....... https://asianracingreport.com/he-has-touched-the-hearts-of-everybody-here-fallen-jockey-taiki-yanagidas-legacy-lives-on/?fbclid=IwAR36ODoC_StajAgVWu32dT6XEv_dXlXP8Li8Xpe5Civ1GNmN3rTwCMTFePY Black Kirrama, Dissident and Pegasus 9 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted August 14, 2022 Livestream link for Taiki's Memorial service. https://loveracing.nz/News/37434/TaikiYanagidaMemorialServiceLivestream.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0A1YatbaHkfWCUr-0Igu6cGrbWhYoqekUe7yJUy6iYcPPhXXkoa4QBygc Dissident, Right first time, Pegasus 9 and 1 other 1 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,759 Report post Posted August 15, 2022 Lovely service for Taiki…well done to everyone involved. RIP Tiger….. elbow, Dissident, Breeder and 12 others 15 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted August 15, 2022 Yes 100% agree very well done and looked like a large turnout for the young man...fly high Tiger...hope you and Mr B can get some more winners together. Right first time, ADM, mckenzie and 4 others 7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissJools 465 Report post Posted August 15, 2022 t was a beautiful service, nice touch at the end having Dragon Queen cantering down the home straight, with the Westbury Stakes Race playing. Right first time, ADM, JJ Flash and 7 others 9 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted August 16, 2022 For anyone who did not see the service to farewell Taiki here it is.... Memphis3, Pegasus 9, Hedley Jordan and 1 other 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted August 18, 2022 Just to update everyone as of Monday over $56,000 raised for Taiki's family...well done everyone so far who contributed. Pegasus 9, Hedley Jordan, Dissident and 1 other 2 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zak Hussai 416 Report post Posted September 1, 2022 scooby3051 and Cubes 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,693 Report post Posted September 5, 2022 Just to update and let everyone know...donations reached $77,000 for Taiki's family...well done to the NZ racing industry....it will surely help them out after the tragic loss. JJ Flash, Leggy and Memphis3 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...