‘HORRIBLE MOMENT’ Jockey Masa Hashizume left the equestrian world breathless after he nearly missed out on victory after being knocked off his horse’s HEAD in a chaotic finish just before the finish line
In the heart-pounding world of thoroughbred racing, where split seconds can forge legends or shatter dreams, few moments capture the raw unpredictability of the sport quite like the dramatic tumble at Otaki Racecourse in New Zealand on November 29, 2025.
Jockey Masahiro Hashizume, a rising star from Japan with a reputation for cool precision under pressure, found himself sprawled on the turf in a scene that has since gone viral, leaving spectators, trainers, and fellow riders gasping in disbelief.
Riding the hot favorite Road To Paris in the prestigious Group 3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes, Hashizume appeared poised to claim a career-defining victory—only for chaos to erupt mere yards from the finish line, as his mount veered sharply and collided with a charging rival, sending the jockey tumbling headfirst into the dirt.
The race itself was a showcase of equine athleticism on a crisp spring afternoon, with a field of twelve three-year-olds thundering down the straight on Otaki’s picturesque track.
Road To Paris, a strapping gelding sired by the accomplished Circus Maximus, had dominated the early exchanges, surging to the lead under Hashizume’s expert guidance.
The Japanese jockey, who relocated to New Zealand earlier in the year to broaden his international experience, had nursed his partner through a tactical ride, conserving energy for the final furlong.
As the wire approached, the crowd’s roar swelled; Road To Paris edged clear, his powerful strides eating up the ground while challengers like the determined Ammirati, ridden by Matt Cartwright, began to close from behind.
Eyewitnesses described the incident unfolding in heart-stopping slow motion. With victory seemingly assured, Road To Paris suddenly shied to the right—a reflexive swerve perhaps triggered by a shadow, the roar of the crowd, or an instinctive aversion to the surging Ammirati on his inside. The move was abrupt and unforgiving.
Ammirati, closing with ferocious momentum, had no time to check his stride. In a split-second catastrophe, the challenger’s head slammed into Hashizume’s right side, the sheer force of the 1,200-pound beast propelling the jockey clean off his perch.
Hashizume, still clipped into one stirrup, was flung sideways, his body skidding across the turf as Road To Paris stumbled but somehow regained his footing to cross the line first—unridden, a ghostly victor in a race that defied all norms.
Paramedics rushed to the scene as the grandstand fell into stunned silence, broken only by scattered cries of concern. Hashizume lay motionless for several agonizing seconds, his helmet askew and silks muddied from the impact.
The 28-year-old, known among peers for his unflappable demeanor, had endured a blow that could have ended careers. Remarkably, after a thorough on-site examination, he waved off the stretcher and stood unaided, flashing a thumbs-up to the worried officials.
“It was like being hit by a truck,” Hashizume later recounted in a post-race interview, his voice steady but laced with adrenaline. “One moment, we’re flying to the line; the next, everything’s spinning. But Road To Paris—he’s a warrior. He got us there, even without me.”
The horse, too, emerged unscathed, trotting back to the winner’s circle with a calm that belied the pandemonium. Veterinary checks confirmed no injuries, and trainer Ben Foote, who prepared Road To Paris for the showdown, praised the gelding’s resilience.
“He’s got that fire in him,” Foote said, cradling the gleaming trophy. “Masahiro rode him perfectly until the end. That collision? Pure bad luck. But it shows the heart these animals have—they don’t quit.”
Under New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing rules, Road To Paris’s unaccompanied finish was upheld, awarding the victory and the lion’s share of the NZ$100,000 purse. Yet the drama didn’t end there. Stewards launched an immediate inquiry into the incident, scrutinizing race footage for any signs of interference or rule breaches.
Ammirati’s connections, while gracious in defeat, lodged a formal protest, arguing the collision amounted to a “willful act” by Road To Paris that endangered riders. After hours of deliberation, the panel dismissed the claim, citing the shying as an unavoidable equine reaction rather than jockey error.
Cartwright, Ammirati’s rider, accepted the ruling with sportsmanship, noting, “Racing’s full of these moments. Hats off to Masa—he’s tough as nails.”
The equestrian community has rallied around Hashizume in the aftermath, with tributes pouring in from across the globe. Fellow Japanese jockeys, including those who’ve shared tracks with him in his homeland, hailed his grit on social media, while New Zealand’s racing fraternity welcomed him deeper into its fold.
“Masa’s one of the good ones,” said veteran trainer Lisa Latta. “That fall could’ve scared off a lesser rider, but he’ll be back stronger.” Indeed, Hashizume wasted no time, mounting up for two more rides that afternoon and securing a placing in the finale.
His agent confirmed a clean bill of health, with no fractures or concussions—just bruises to heal and lessons to absorb.
This “horrible moment,” as one commentator dubbed it, underscores the perilous ballet of horse racing, where human skill meets animal instinct in a high-stakes dance. For every triumphant gallop, there’s a reminder of the risks: the thunder of hooves, the fragility of balance, the thin line between glory and catastrophe.
Yet it’s these very elements that fuel the sport’s enduring allure. As Hashizume prepares for his next mount, the incident serves as a stark testament to resilience.
In a world where horses can turn heroes into fallen figures in an instant, the true winners are those who rise, dust off, and ride on.
Road To Paris may have crossed the line alone, but it was Hashizume’s unyielding spirit that truly carried the day, leaving the equestrian world not just breathless, but inspired.
