Corey Nakatani started his athletic career in a different sport -- wrestling -- but ironically, it was high school wrestling that eventually led him to his true passion. After stopping at Santa Anita Race Track with his father on their way home from a wrestling match, Nakatani became enthralled with horse racing and never turned back. Still in high school, Nakatani started mucking stalls and walking horses for trainer Roger Stein before talking his way into a working farm where he got the chance to ride.

Nakatani completed jockey school in 1987 in Castaic, California, and began his professional racing career in Caliente, Mexico in 1998 -- winning his first race aboard Blue King. Nakatani then moved back to California in April of 1989, where he became the leading apprentice rider that year. His success continued to grow in the 1990's when he won meet titles at all major California race tracks (Santa Anita, Hollywood and Del Mar).