Cygames' multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby has been a cultural phenomenon since its mobile game launch, spawning a hit anime and a mountain of merchandise. Now celebrating its fourth anniversary, the franchise continues to draw new fans to the world of horse racing, and its recent English release on Steam is kicking off a fresh wave of hype in the West.
As new players dive in, many are discovering the story of one particular horse girl, Haru Urara, and have been deeply moved by the tale of her real-life counterpart. This has sparked an incredible cross-continental fan movement, with Western players organizing hay donations to support the retired racehorse. The sudden influx of support even caught the hay supplier by surprise, creating a massive buzz online.
First, a little backstory on the real Haru Urara. She's a celebrity horse famous for an incredible record of 113 races without a single win. This unique achievement turned her into a beloved underdog, a "zero-win champion" whose never-give-up attitude captured the hearts of racing fans. Her spirit was so infectious that American director Mickey Duzyj created a documentary about her in 2016, "The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere," which won an award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In the game, her character reflects this legacy with incredibly low base stats and skills, making it nearly impossible to win the prestigious Arima Kinen race. But even when she finishes last, Haru Urara is all smiles, waving and just happy to be running. Her cheerful, optimistic spirit and love for the sport, regardless of victory, have made her an absolute fan favorite.
Many Western players fell hard for Haru Urara, but when they tried to join her official support group, "Haru Urara no Kai," they found it was already at capacity and not accepting new members. Undeterred, they turned their attention to Namaboku Bank, an organization that supports retired horses, and began donating to ensure the real Haru Urara could enjoy high-quality, domestically-grown pasture grass in her golden years.
Though donations cost money, countless Western fans, inspired by Haru Urara's spirit, poured in their support, causing such a massive surge in traffic that the organization's website temporarily crashed.
As of 3:00 PM on July 13, hay donations had reached a staggering 2,400 kg and were still climbing. (According to calculations by Japanese fans, over 400 kg of this came from overseas donors.)
Even the team at Namaboku Bank was stunned by the massive wave of international donations. They posted a message thanking all the fans for their support and for contributing to the health and well-being of these retired horses.
Haru Urara's explosion in popularity in the West and the subsequent hay drive have also inspired a wave of fan art online—most of it, naturally, featuring her happily munching on piles of grass.
The real Haru Urara is now enjoying a peaceful and healthy retirement. A fan who recently visited her shared an update, reminding everyone that if they wish to see her, they should make a reservation and follow the rules to ensure she can continue to live in a comfortable environment.
With the Steam version just launched, this whole episode is a throwback to the frenzy that swept Japan when *Umamusume: Pretty Derby* first came out. It's awesome to see these new Western fans experiencing that same pure joy and channeling their love for these horse girls into real-world action.