Your smartphone can destroy your career. Just ask Nanako Fujita, Japan’s best-known female jockey.
The recent news of Fujita quitting after her suspension for breaking horse racing's strict phone rules teaches us that bad habits related to smartphone use don't discriminate.
The misuse of digital devices among young jockeys has become a significant problem within the industry. Within a span of 18 months, 10 Japan Racing Association riders were penalized for using phones in the so-called “jockey jail” — a system unique to Japan where riders (willingly) get locked up for two nights and go offline throughout the weekend’s racing.
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