20 years ago, Japan’s most unsuccessful racehorse captured hearts across the nation, and now, thanks to the Western launch of the mobile game Umamusume: Pretty Derby, she’s inspiring a whole new global fanbase. 
The game lets players raise anime horse-girls, with characters modeled after real racehorses, and one particular horse-girl, Haru Urara, has become a symbol of perseverance and positivity.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby, developed by Cygames, centers around anthropomorphic horse-girls, each representing an actual racehorse. The characters’ designs, personalities, and stats reflect those of their real-life counterparts. When the game was released in English on Steam in June 2021, international players were introduced to the game’s diverse cast, including Haru Urara, who quickly won over fans with her infectious spirit.
Haru Urara, who sports pink hair in her anime form, is known for her unwavering optimism, despite losing most of her races. Though she often finishes far behind in competitions, she’s a loyal and generous friend, frequently buying gifts for her fellow horse-girls. This optimistic nature is drawn directly from the real Haru Urara, who had a 113-race career from 1998 to 2004 without winning a single race. Despite this, she earned the admiration of many fans for her tenacity and never-give-up attitude. Haru Urara’s story resonated so deeply with the Japanese public that even the country’s prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, praised her in 2004, acknowledging her as a symbol of perseverance.
Though Haru Urara didn’t win races, she became famous for her resilience, and by the time she retired, a “Haru Boom” had taken over Japan, with fans traveling to watch her race and buying up merchandise. Even her losing betting slips were cherished as symbols of good luck. In 2018, she was featured on traffic safety posters, cementing her place as a beloved national icon.
Fast forward to 2025, and the release of Haru Urara’s Umamusume character has sparked a new wave of interest. Fans, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), have been sharing real-life updates about her, with one post receiving over 2.6 million views and thousands of new followers. She has even been adopted into viral internet memes, where her unwavering attitude is used as motivation for others not to give up.
In the game, Haru Urara’s stats may not be the highest, but that’s part of the challenge and charm. Players work to improve her performance or simply enjoy her character’s bubbly personality. Haru Urara’s popularity shows that sometimes, success doesn’t come from initial failure, but from perseverance and the joy of the journey. And while she didn’t make her mark on the racetrack, she’s now a social media star and a cherished figure in retirement, living peacefully with her friend, Pepper the goat. Fans can even find official merchandise, like T-shirts and phone straps, featuring Haru Urara at Matha Farm, where she resides.
The Umamusume mobile game is available now in English on Steam, Google Play, and the Apple App Store. All three seasons of the anime can be streamed on Crunchyroll.