Who is Forever Young? Meet the Japanese star of Belmont’s Jockey Club Gold Cup and the richest racehorse in history.

Belmont Park is reopening after three years and $455 million worth of renovations, with one of horse racing’s biggest stars taking center stage.

Forever Young, the Japanese star who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, is the headline attraction for Belmont’s return to racing on Friday. He’s the star of a five-horse field – reduced from seven following the scratches of Banishing and Chunk of Gold – for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup.

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The Jockey Club Gold Cup, run at 1 ¼ miles on dirt, is the fifth race on Friday’s Belmont card with a post time of 4:14 p.m. ET.

Before Forever Young steps into the starting gate, here’s a guide to what you need to know about the Japanese star and his career.

Who is Forever Young?

A 5-year-old Japanese-bred son of Real Steel, Forever Young is one of the most accomplished racehorses on the planet and the sport’s all-time leader in purse money won with more than $31 million in earnings.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, ridden by Ryusei Sakai and owned by Susumu Fujita, Forever Young has 11 wins, one second and three thirds in his 15 career starts. He beat Sierra Leone and Fierceness to win last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, and is a two-time winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race.

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When is Forever Young running at Belmont Park?

Forever Young is running in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Friday, Sept. 18 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

It’s the fifth race on a nine-race card, and carries a post time of 4:14 p.m. ET.

Who is Forever Young facing in the Jockey Club Gold Cup?

Jockey Club Gold Cup horses, post positions, odds

1. Baeza (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 9-2)

2. Stars and Stripes (Bill Mott, John Velazquez, 15-1)

3. Chunk of Gold (SCRATCHED)

4. Phileas Fogg (Gustavo Rodriguez, Kendrick Carmouche, 4-1)

6. Render Judgment (Kenny McPeek, Manny Franco, 20-1)

7. Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi, Ryusei Sakai, 3-5)

What channel can I watch Forever Young in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on?

The Jockey Club Gold Cup will be shown on Fox.

Throughout Friday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup card, racing will be shown on several of Fox’s family of networks.

Jockey Club Gold Cup Day TV schedule

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Has Forever Young ever raced in New York before?

No, the Jockey Club Gold Cup will be his first start in New York.

Has Forever Young raced in the U.S. before?

Forever Young has made three lifetime starts in the United States. He was third behind Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and third behind Sierra Leone and Fierceness in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. His most recent race in the U.S. was the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he won by a half-length over Sierra Leone.

What races has Forever Young been in this year?

Forever Young has raced twice this year, both times in the Middle East. He won his second straight Saudi Cup in February, then finished second to American star Magnitude in the Dubai World Cup in late March.

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His start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup will be his first in nearly six months as he prepares for another Breeders’ Cup Classic start next month at Keeneland.

Where does Forever Young rank among the richest horses of all-time?

Forever Young is the sport’s all-time leader in purse earnings by a wide margin, having secured more than $31 million in his 15-race career.

The top 25 in earnings, according to Equibase:

1. Forever Young: $31,758,590

2. Ushba Tesoro: $18,787,874

4. Thunder Snow: $16,511,476

7. Rebel’s Romance: $15,650,493

8. Country Grammer: $14,921,320

9. California Chrome: $14,752,650

11. Midnight Bisou: $13,971,520

12. Senor Buscador: $12,944,427

15. Highland Reel: $10,530,964

22. Gloria de Campeao: $9,258,355

25. Loves Only You: $8,686,188

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This article originally published at Who is Forever Young? Meet the Japanese star of Belmont’s Jockey Club Gold Cup and the richest racehorse in history..