65th Nippon Derby Tokyo Racecourse

Original vintage equestrian sport poster for The 65th Nippon Derby 第65回日本ダービー G1 horse race held at the Tokyo Racecourse on 7 June 1998 featuring a dynamic psychedelic pop art design by the notable Japanese graphic designer and printmaker Tadanori Yokoo 横尾 忠則 (b. 1936) with illustrations depicting a jockey racing on a horse towards the viewer in between two horses on the sides, the Japan Racing Association JRA logo with two crossed Japanese flags flying in front of red roses and a lightly cloudy blue sky background above, the title text in English diagonally across the image, a portrait of a horse in a frame between a classic Japanese wave motif in the style of Hokusai and swallows flying in front of a smiling red rising sun with its rays on a yellow and red shaded background below, the whole artwork framed by Japanese writing on pillars detailing the race specifications - 2400 meters on turf at the Tokyo Racecourse - and the title in Japanese on an arch with flags and winged mythical horses at the top, and flaming shell style designs with a fish leaping, frog, butterfly and colourful flowers at the bottom, and a frog conductor in the corner, set inside blue and red sun rays on the borders. This Tokyo Yushun horse racing event was won by the legendary Japanese thoroughbred racehorse champion Special Week スペシャルウィーク (1995-2018), ridden by the record breaking Japanese jockey Yutaka Take 武 豊 (b. 1969) as his first Derby win, and trained by Toshiaki Shirai 白井利明 (b. 1945). Very good condition, minor creasing, backed on linen.