Santa Anita Park announced Sunday that jockey Kazushi Kimura will return to racing on March 21 following a two-month absence due to injury.
Kimura, who has been sidelined since mid-January after suffering a lower leg injury in a starting gate incident, will begin riding horses during morning training sessions late next week.
“He’s a really hard worker and has been diligent in his physical therapy,” said Brian Beach, Kimura’s agent. “He’s doing everything known to man trying to get back.”
The injury to Kimura’s left ankle required surgical intervention with two screws inserted to stabilize the area. Recovery took longer than initially anticipated due to persistent swelling and complications.
Kimura recently traveled to Costa Rica for stem cell therapy as part of his rehabilitation efforts. He’s expected to return for the remainder of the condition book that runs through the end of the Classic Meet on April 6.
At the time of his injury, Kimura ranked third in earnings and fourth in wins among jockeys at the Classic meet. His absence has been felt throughout the racing community.
“It’s been tough. He was riding a lot of good horses,” Beach noted.
Prior to his injury, Kimura had secured several graded stakes victories, most notably aboard Kopion (Omaha Beach) in the Grade I La Brea Stakes for trainer Richard Mandella.
The jockey’s return marks an important addition to the rider colony at Santa Anita as the track heads into the final weeks of its Classic Meet.
