was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse active from 1998 to 2000. He was considered the last big star of Symboli Rudolf's progeny. His most notable wins include the 1999 Asahi Challenge Cup and Kyoto Daishoten.
Background Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi was foaled on 6 April 1995 at Symboli Farm. His sire, Symboli Rudolf, won the Japanese Triple Crown undefeated and sired numerous other graded winners including Tokai Teio. His dam Sweet Cielo was a daughter of Conquistador Cielo who won several graded races including the 1982 Belmont Stakes and Met Mile.
Racing career Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi made his debut in 1998 in a race for 4-year-olds without a win at Kyoto Racecourse, securing a victory in his first start. Afterward, partly due to his delicate constitution, he alternated between racing and rest periods; however, starting in the summer of 1999—when he turned 5—he began to compete consistently, winning the Asahi Challenge Cup in the fall and becoming a graded stakes winner. In his next start, the Kyoto Daishoten, he defeated top contenders such as Mejiro Bright, T. M. Opera O, Stay Gold, and Special Week to claim victory. In the Tenno Sho (Autumn), he was backed as the second favorite to win and emerged as one of the leading contenders on the GI circuit; however, after finishing fourth in the 44th Arima Kinen that same year, he developed an osteochondroma and entered another long layoff, not returning to racing until the following fall. In the Arima Kinen, his second consecutive appearance in the race, he was withdrawn from the race on the final straight. He had ruptured the suspensory ligament in his left front leg and was diagnosed as having lost his ability to race, leading to the decision to retire him from racing.
Racing form The following racing form is based on information available on JBIS search and netkeiba.com. DateRacecourseRaceGradeDistanceGateOddsFav.Fin.TimeMarginJockeyWinner (Runner-Up)1998 – three-year-old season2 MayKyotoFour-Year-Old MaidenMaiden1,800m56.751:25.6 -0.2S.Fujita(T.M.Tiger)9 NovKyotoOsakayama TokubetsuPre-OP1800m418.585th1:47.30.4S.FujitaSunday Sarah28 NovChukyoInuyama TokubetsuPre-OP2000m105.222:02.1 -0.6T.Sato(State Fellow)1999 – four-year-old season17 JanKyotoInari TokubetsuPre-OP2000m4Scratched S.FujitaSuehiro Commander6 JunChukyoMikawa TokubetsuPre-OP1800m82.311:48.8 -0.4S.Fujita(Elegant More)25 JulKokuraKitakyushu KinenG31800m45.931:46.00.4S.FujitaEishin Vincennes12 SepHanshinAsahi Challenge CupG32000m17.051:59.5 -0.2S.Fujita(Meisho Odo)10 OctKyotoKyoto DaishotenG22400m413.442:24.3 -0.1S.Fujita(Mejiro Bright)31 OctTokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12000m176.028th1:58.60.6S.FujitaSpecial Week26 DecNakayamaArima KinenG12500m1012.164th2:37.30.1S.FujitaGrass Wonder2000 – five-year-old season8 OctKyotoKyoto DaishotenG22400m911.936th2:26.70.7S.FujitaT. M. Opera O24 DecNakayamaArima KinenG12500m113.14DNFS.FujitaT. M. Opera O Legend
Retirement and death Upon retirement, the decision was made not to have Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi become a breeding stallion. After recuperating at the Miyazaki Convalescent Center, he underwent castration surgery, followed by training to transition to a lead horse at Kyoto Racecourse. In 2002, he made his debut as a lead horse on the opening day of the 5th Kyoto racing meet, even leading the Kyoto Daishoten, much to the delight of fans. Ultimately, the condition of Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi's legs became a cause for concern among staff, and he retired from the position at the conclusion of the 4th Kyoto meet in 2007.
Upon his second retirement, with funding from the Retired Racehorse Care and Exhibition Program, he spent some time at a riding club in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Beginning in 2012, he was supported by the Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi Association, established by Shigeo Nakanishi, with others who had served as his stablehands during his racing career. In November 2017, he was moved to Yoshino Ranch in Aya Town, Higashimorokata District, Miyazaki Prefecture, where he was kept until his passing.
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi died on 2 August 2026, at Yoshino Ranch, where he was grazing. He was 31. Nakanishi announced the news of his death on his blog that afternoon.
In popular culture An anthropomorphized version of Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi appears as a character in the Japanese multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Yoshino Aoyama. She is depicted with a weak constitution like her real-life counterpart, although often exaggerated for comedic effect.
Pedigree
References