Yoshio Matsumoto
Yoshio Matsumoto | |
|---|---|
松本好雄 | |
| Born | January 6, 1938 Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | August 29, 2025 (aged 87) |
| Education | Chiba Institute of Technology |
| Occupations |
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| Title |
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| Children | Yoshio Matsumoto (first son) |
Yoshio Matsumoto (January 6, 1938 – August 29, 2025) was a Japanese businessman and racehorse owner.
Background and career
Matsumoto served as Chief Executive Officer of Kishiro Co., Ltd. (as of 2013[2]), a company in the industrial machinery field that manufactures about 40% of the crank shafts for diesel engines used in large vessels worldwide. He was also an amateur shogi player, holding the rank of 6-dan. He was long acquainted with Kunio Naitō, a former professional shogi player. At Naito's request, Matsumoto had sponsored Kansai Women's Kishiro Cup - Meisho Competition (Kishiro-hai Sōdatsu Kansai Joryū Meishō-sen) since 2005. In 2007, he received the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, and in 2010, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.[3][4]
He became the head of the support organization for Yasutoshi Nishimura, a member of the House of Representatives from Akashi, through the introduction of Yoshirō Mori, who was then chair of the Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai.[5][6][7]
Matsumoto died of pancreatic cancer On August 29, 2025, at the age of 87. The news was announced on September 2 by Kishiro Co., Ltd.[8]。
As a racehorse owner
Matsumoto was registered as a horse owner with the Japan Racing Association (JRA). His racing silks featured a blue body with a pink sash and pink sleeves.[9] Takanori Yoshimoto, a jockey affiliated with Hokkaido Keiba (a regional racing association), uses the same silks with Matsumoto's permission.[9] The crown name Meisho (明松)[4] is derived from his hometown Akashi (明石) and his family name Matsumoto (松本).[3] It also shares the pronunciation of the Japanese word for "great commander" (名将).
In 1974, Matsumoto was registered as a JRA racehorse owner.[3] He eventually became a prominent owner with nearly 50 horses per generation, an exceptional number for an individual. In September 2009, he became chair of the Japan Owners' Association and was later appointed honorary chair. Most of his horses were trained at the Ritto Training Center and distributed among various trainers, although some were entrusted to Futoshi Kojima and Eiji Nakano of the Miho Training Center. His wife, Kazuko, and his son,[10] Yoshitaka—who is also the current CEO of Kishiro Co., Ltd—are racehorse owners as well, Yoshitaka is best known as the owner of Meisho Suzanna, winner of the 2015 Queen's Stakes. Both Kazuko and Yoshitaka use the same Meisho crown name as Yoshio.
While the Japanese racing scene is dominated by horses with famous bloodlines from prestigious farms, Matsumoto preferred purchasing inexpensive horses with less well-known pedigrees from small to mid-sized farms, emphasizing the importance of building connections and trust with those farms. He selected horses based on recommendations from trainers and breeders, rather than inspecting them personally. As a result, he first encountered Meisho Samson—a winner of the Tōkyō Yūshun and Tenno Sho—at the paddock of Kokura Racecourse when the horse made its debut. He also owned many descendants of his former racehorses. Meisho Homura and its offspring Meisho Battler both won graded races, making them a successful father-daughter pair. Staff members of small to mid-sized farms affectionately called him Meisho-san as a sign of respect. There was even a social club in the Hidaka region, the San'ai-kai, created to foster friendship with Matsumoto.[11] He also converted many of his unsuccessful racehorses into lead ponies.
While many of his horses won graded races hosted by the JRA, Matsumoto had no success in G1 titles until Meisho Doto won the Takarazuka Kinen in 2001, 28 years after he began owning racehorses. He subsequently gained greater prominence in G1 races with horses such as Meisho Bowler, winner of the February Stakes, and Meisho Samson, winner of the Satsuki Shō, the Japanese Derby, and both the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho, among others.
While many leading horse owners make a range of requests to trainers—such as which races to enter or which jockeys to use—Matsumoto generally left such decisions to trainers, saying he knew nothing about horses and therefore had nothing to add. However, when Meisho Samson was entered in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2007, he replaced the jockey Mamoru Ishibashi with Yutaka Take. In making the change, he summoned both jockeys and personally persuaded Ishibashi, pleading with him to accept the decision—a rare instance of him acting selfishly, according to Nikkan Sports and other news outlets. From the 2010s onward, Matsumoto primarily employed Koshiro Take and Yutaka Take as jockeys for his horses.[12]
On August 23, 2025, Meisho Hakkei, ridden by Riki Takasugi, won a two-year-old debut race, marking Matsumoto's 2,000th victory in the JRA—a feat never before achieved by an individual racehorse owner.[13] This milestone came in the 27,629th JRA race, counting from Cherry Path's debut, when it finished eighth in the sixth race at Kyoto Racecourse on February 9, 1975.[14] At the time of this achievement, Matsumoto was watching the race from home rather than at the racecourse, and he expressed his gratitude through the JRA. Four days later, he died.[15]
His motto was: "There are people, then there are horses, and then there are people again."
Notable horses
G1 winners
- Meisho Doto – Chukyo Kinen, Kinko Sho, and All Commers in 2000; Nikkei Sho and Takarazuka Kinen in 2001
- Meisho Bowler – Kokura Nisai Stakes and Daily Hai Nisai Stakes in 2003; Negishi Stakes, February Stakes, and Garnet Stakes in 2005
- Meisho Samson – Spring Stakes, Satsuki Sho, and Tōkyō Yūshun in 2006; Sankei Ōsaka Hai, Tenno Sho (Spring), and Tenno Sho (Autumn) in 2007
- Meisho Mambo – Fillies' Revue, Yushun Himba, Shuka Sho, and Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2013
- Meisho Dassai – Kokura Summer Jump in 2019; Tokyo High Jump and Nakayama Daishogai in 2020; Hanshin Spring Jump and Nakayama Grand Jump in 2021
- Meisho Hario – Miyako Stakes in 2021; March Stakes in 2022; Teio Sho in 2022 and 2023; Kashiwa Kinen in 2023; Kawasaki Kinen in 2025[16]
- Meisho Tabaru – Mainichi Hai and Kobe Shimbun Hai in 2024; Takarazuka Kinen in 2025
Other Graded Race Winners
- Meisho King – Kabutoyama Kinen in 1983
- Meisho Eikan – Kyōto Daishōten in 1988
- Meisho Vitoria – Stayers Stakes in 1991
- Meisho Homura – February Stakes in 1993
- Meisho Marine – Kokura Daishoten in 1994
- Meisho Regnum – Kokura Daishoten in 1995
- Meisho Amur – Breeders' Gold Cup in 1996; Nagoya Daishoten in 1997; Breeders' Gold Cup in 1998
- Meisho Tesoro – Shinzan Kinen and Mile Championship (2nd place) in 1995
- Meisho Wakashio – Kyoto Jump Stakes in 2000; Nakayama Daishogai (2nd place) in 2002
- Meisho Motonari – Hokkaido Spring Cup and Super Dirt Derby in 1997; Nagoya Daishoten and February Stakes (2nd place) in 1998; Kakitsubata Kinen in 1999
- Meisho Hidaka – Hokuto Hai in 1998
- Meisho Odo – Sankei Osaka Hai and Mile Championship (3rd place) in 2000; Naruo Kinen and Yasuda Kinen (3rd place) in 2001
- Meisho Domenica – Fukushima Kinen in 2003
- Meisho Kio – Chukyo Kinen in 2004
- Meisho Ramses – Fuji Stakes in 2002
- Meisho Kaido – Kokura Kinen in 2004; Kokura Kinen, Kokura Daishoten, and Kitakyushu Kinen in 2005 (Kokura triple crown in the same year); Tanabata Sho in 2006
- Meisho Battler – Kokura Daishoten in 2004; Procyon Stakes, Summer Champion, Sirius Stakes, and JBC Mile (2nd place) in 2006; Kakitsubata Kinen, Sakitama Hai, Sparking Lady Cup, and Cluster Cup in 2007; Marine Cup and Mile Championship Nambu Hai (2nd place) in 2008; Marine Cup in 2009
- Meicho Munenori – Hyogo Championship in 2004
- Meisho Oscar – Flora Stakes in 2004; Fukushima Himba Stakes in 2005
- Meisho Tokon – Heian Stakes, Tokai Stakes, Elm Stakes, and Tokyo Daishōten (3rd place) in 2007; Nagoya Daishoten, Breeders' Gold Cup, and Champions Cup (horse race) (2nd place) in 2008
- Meisho Qualia – Kyoto Shimbun Hai in 2008
- Meisho Beluga – Nikkei Shinshun Hai, Kyoto Daishoten, and Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2nd place) in 2010
- Meisho Kampaku – Kyoto Daishoten in 2012
- Meisho Mashu – Negishi Stakes in 2013
- Meisho Yodo – Tokyo Jump Stakes in 2014
- Meisho Naruto – Kokura Kinen in 2013; Tanabata Sho in 2014
- Meisho Bushido – Nakayama Daishogai (3rd place) in 2013; Kokura Summer Jump, Hanshin Jump Stakes, and Nakayama Grand Jump (3rd place) in 2014
- Meisho Columbo – Hyogo Gold Trophy in 2014; Nagoya Daishoten in 2015
- Meisho Iron – Kizuna Cup in 2018; Grand Chariot Mombetsu Spring in 2019; Hokkaido Spring Cup and Upopoi Autumn Sprint in 2020
- Meisho Sumitomo – Sirius Stakes and Nagoya Grand Prix in 2017
- Meisho Tekkon – Radio Nikkei Sho in 2018; Nikkei Sho in 2019
- Meisho Tengen – Yayoi Sho in 2019
- Meisho Kazusa – Procyon Stakes, Hakusan Daishoten, and Urawa Kinen in 2021
- Meisho Mimosa – Hanshin Himba Stakes in 2022
- Meisho Murakumo – Leopard Stakes in 2021
- Meisho Funjin – Saga Kinen in 2025
List of horses by earnings
| Name | Gender | YOB | Races | Wins | Earnings (JPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meisho Samson | Stallion | 2003 | 27 | 9 | 1,065,949,000 |
| Meisho Doto | Stallion | 1996 | 27 | 10 | 921,334,000 |
| Meisho Battler | Mare | 2000 | 50 | 14 | 584,803,000 |
| Meisho Bowler | Stallion | 2001 | 29 | 7 | 466,724,000 |
| Meisho Tokon | Stallion | 2002 | 41 | 9 | 429,530,000 |
| Meisho Mambo | Mare | 2010 | 10 | 6 | 398,067,000 |
| Meisho Amur | Stallion | 1991 | 53 | 11 | 393,299,000 |
| Meisho Kaido | Stallion | 1999 | 43 | 11 | 356,984,000 |
| Meisho Odo | Stallion | 1995 | 27 | 6 | 332,977,000 |
| Meisho Motonari | Stallion | 1994 | 32 | 7 | 295,797,000 |
| Meisho Regnum | Stallion | 1988 | 59 | 7 | 275,089,000 |
| Meisho Beluga | Mare | 2005 | 30 | 7 | 267,498,000 |
| Meisho Vitoria | Gelding | 1987 | 39 | 6 | 253,121,000 |
| Meisho Wakashio | Stallion | 1994 | 59 | 7 | 237,337,000 |
| Meisho Homura | Stallion | 1988 | 25 | 10 | 234,415,000 |
| Meisho Kio | Stallion | 1997 | 38 | 7 | 219,225,000 |
| Meisho Yushi[a] | Stallion | 1991 | 69 | 9 | 212,059,000 |
| Meisho Sumitomo | Stallion | 2011 | 70 | 8 | 212,750,000 |
Major award winners
- Meisho Samson (2006)
- Meisho Mambo (2013)
- Meisho Dassai (2020)
- JRA Special Award
- Meisho Samson (2007)
Notes
- ^ Its most notable victory was in the TV Aichi Open. After being transferred to a regional racing association, ownership changed from Matsumoto to Masayoshi Okamura.
References
- ^ 役員・歴代会長紹介 - Japan Owner's Association, accessed on June 4, 2022.
- ^ "企業理念" (in Japanese). KISHIRO GROUP. Archived from the original on 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ a b c ニュースCIT 2013.4.15 活躍する校友 松本好雄氏
- ^ a b "松本好雄氏の祝賀会に約1000人出席" (in Japanese). デイリースポーツ. 2011-02-22. Archived from the original on 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ "TBS". TBS NEWS DIG. 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ "政治資金収支報告書 西村やすとし後援会（令和4年分 定期公表）" (PDF). 兵庫県選挙管理委員会. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
- ^ "「挨拶、挨拶、挨拶。」その②". 西村やすとし オフィシャルサイト. 2009-04-27. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ ""メイショウ"の松本好雄さんが死去 87歳 8月23日に個人馬主史上初のＪＲＡ通算2000勝達成 武豊ら競馬関係者やファンに慕われた名物オーナー". デイリースポーツ. 2025-09-02. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ a b 秋田麻由子 (2012-08-03). "地方競馬です!!「ミスターピンクの一言で…吉本騎手が再デビュー！」" (in Japanese). スポーツニッポン. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ 遠征断念、乗り替わり、メイショウサムソンを巡る幾つものエピソード「松本オーナーのためにも…」/第7回 - netkeiba、2022年9月7日閲覧。
- ^ "重賞ウイナーレポート「2005年02月20日 フェブラリーS G1 優勝馬：メイショウボーラー」". 競走馬のふるさと案内所 (in Japanese). 日本軽種馬協会. 2005. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ 競馬最強の法則 2011年12月号「武豊騎手が貧乏騎手をイジメている!?」記事内
- ^ "不滅の大記録!冠名メイショウの松本好雄オーナーがJRA通算2000勝達成 個人馬主として初の快挙 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ "松本好雄オーナーＪＲＡ通算２０００勝 メイショウハッケイを管理する本田調教師「オーナーと縁のある三嶋牧場の馬で…」". UMATOKU | 馬トク - スポーツ報知' (in Japanese). 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ 【記事全文】「メイショウ」馬主・松本好雄さん死去 87歳 8月23日に個人馬主として史上初のJRA2000勝達成 - Sponichi Annex 2025年9月2日
- ^ "メイショウハリオ". JBISサーチ. 公益社団法人日本軽種馬協会. Retrieved 2023-06-28.