An impressive US$600,000 has been raised in less than two months to support the renovation of Meisho Doto’s shelter.
An ongoing fundraising campaign for the shelter of Meisho Doto, the real-life horse that inspired the Umamusume character of the same name, has reached a massive milestone of US$607K (JPY94.9 million) at the time of writing.
Fans of the racing game Umamusume and the passionate Japanese horse racing community have joined forces to help the Northern Lake Farm renovate their deteriorating horse stable, which famously houses many legendary retired race horses including Meisho Doto. The Uma character was introduced in October this year, and holds a rich story both in and outside of the game.
While you may know her as the timid and clumsy character in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, the race horse often finished runner-up in legendary races, often right behind the iconic TM Opera O. Meisho Doto now lives its life post-racing life in the Northern Lake Farm.
According to representatives of the Northern Lake Farm, the crowdfunding campaign is launched to “improve the stables and surrounding area, as well as to create an environment for maintaining the health of the entire ranch and the horses.”
The owners expressed that they are operating in a stable that has stood for over half a century, and there are many wear and tears that they need to tend to, including leaking and collapsed roofs. Despite their utmost commitment to take care of the retired racehorses, they struggle due to financial issues. In an effort to improve the horses’ living conditions, they turned to the community for support and launched a fundraiser.
“When it comes to building a new stable, there are limits to what we can do on our own, so we would like to ask for a little help from everyone who supports us,” the fundraising page reads.
The campaign garnered overwhelming reception after it went live on 24 October with donations from across the world piling in. The fundraiser effortlessly shattered the initial goal of $96K (JPY15 million) within only three hours of launch.
As of 18 December, the total amount of donations have reached US$608,806 (JPY95 million), with four days remaining before the campaign closes on 22 December.
Northern Lake Farm rep responds to fundraising milestone
The Northern Lake Farm representative shared their delight on X. They also stated that if the donations surpass US$642K (JPY100 million), they will purchase a horse treadmill-a machine that will be highly beneficial for the horses' conditions.
This next milestone has been set in a statement on 7 November, where the rep mentioned that it is “something I have always dreamed of installing one day since the ranch opened.”
Northern Lake Farm, located in Hokkaido Japan, is a retirement ranch and is home to many beloved retired race horses. It also notably housed another Uma character, Taiki Shuttle, who passed away in August 2022.
