A second wind of fame for Japan’s most famous winless racehorse.
Once known for her remarkable losing streak, the Japanese racehorse Haru Urara is now basking in a new kind of glory, thanks to her portrayal in the gacha game Umamusume: Pretty Derby. The character based on her, a cherry blossom-pink schoolgirl with unwavering determination, has become so beloved that fans have turned their attention to the real-life mare herself.
Haru Urara's unexpected resurgence began with a photo shared earlier this year to mark her 29th birthday. The image, which featured her wearing a plastic tiara and standing gracefully like a ballerina, quickly went viral. Garnering over 25,000 likes and more than 2 million views, the post sparked a wave of affection from gacha players and horse racing enthusiasts alike.
Real life Haru Urara's caretaker responds on social media
On 2 July, a caretaker from Matha Farm, where Haru Urara now lives in retirement, acknowledged the increased interest with another update on social media. The translated message shared that the original birthday post had gained “another 10,000 likes since yesterday.” Accompanied by a new image of Haru Urara with a hibiscus flower perched on her head, the post assured fans that the mare is “doing very well” and is “even healthier and more energetic” than her caretaker.
The farm has since updated its bio to mention that it doesn't play Umamusume, likely in response to the growing number of curious fans.
Despite never having won a race, famously losing all 106 of her competitive outings, as reported by the Los Angeles Times in 2004, Haru Urara’s charm and resilience continue to resonate. One Umamusume player who visited her in person shared that she remains “happy and healthy,” further cementing her unlikely status as a beloved icon.
Haru Urara may never have crossed a finish line first, but two decades on, she’s found a new kind of victory, one fuelled by admiration, nostalgia, and the power of fan devotion.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a free-to-play sports simulation and idol-raising game developed by Cygames, where players train anthropomorphised horse girls based on real-life racehorses to compete in races and perform concerts. Originally released in Japan in 2021, the game finally launched globally in English on June 26, 2025, for Steam, iOS, and Android.
Among its colourful cast, one of its most popular characters is Gold Ship, a chaotic fan favourite known for her unpredictable antics and eccentric charm.
