From an American perspective, horse racing and animated sequence sound like unusual bedfellows. Their demographics are extra numerous than this, with horse racing that includes a predominantly older demographic, whereas anime typically appeals extra to a youthful era who aren’t usually taken with sports activities, not to mention area of interest sports activities like horse racing.
Uma Musume Fairly Derby, which implies “horse woman” in English, goals to defy expectations and bridge two worlds. First aired as a TV sequence in 2018 and tailored right into a online game in 2021, Uma Musume has turn out to be a phenomenon in Japan, a rustic obsessive about horses. It impressed a number of spin-off tv reveals, performs, and a sequence of manga (Japanese comedian books).
The anime sequence is about in a world the place horse ladies race as a substitute of racehorses. These ladies have horse ears and tails and may run as much as 40 miles per hour identical to thoroughbreds. The ladies attend a horse racing college at a boarding college, the place they practice and race. Many of the characters share the names and tales of actual horses from Japanese horse racing historical past, informed in a humanizing and fantastical approach.
This online game sequence tells the story of Uma Musume from the coach’s perspective. The participant takes on the position of a coach and helps practice the women for the race. A big portion of the sport is devoted to race preparation, permitting even these unfamiliar with racing to realize perception into how horses are ready for competitors.
By combining the already beloved Japanese horse with charming characters and an fascinating storyline, Uma Musume has constructed an enormous fan base in Japan and has turn out to be a multi-billion greenback media franchise.
Be taught extra about Uma Musume Fairly Derby with America’s Greatest Racing’s Newbie’s Information
Cygames, the developer and writer of the Uma Musume sequence, has a detailed relationship with the Japan Racing Affiliation, and the JRA credit the sequence with serving to increase Uma Musume’s already excessive profile in Japan. Though this idea could seem unusual to Individuals, anthropomorphism isn’t unusual on the planet of Japanese anime.
“Animation has a historical past of very unusual and outlandish ideas, particularly anthropomorphizing issues that aren’t human,” stated Nathan Klein, a scholar within the College of Arizona’s Racetrack Trade Program and an anime fan. “Should you assume it is foolish to make a racehorse a girl, there are anime that anthropomorphize World Warfare II international locations, battleships, and weapons. This consists of sports activities anime, too. A few of the hottest sequence are based mostly on much less mainstream sports activities like determine skating and volleyball. It is common for anime to introduce individuals to themes they won’t in any other case have heard of, by means of cute ladies and vivid artwork types.”
In June 2025, the sport was launched worldwide. The USA rapidly grew to become the biggest worldwide market, accounting for 68% of all international spending and 34% of whole world income. Longtime anime followers like Los Angeles-based cosplayer Vanina Bear have been already large followers of the sequence lengthy earlier than its U.S. debut.
“I grew up obsessive about horses. Since I used to be a baby, I might search for horse encyclopedias and draw photos of horses. However till I began watching ‘Uma Musume Fairly Derby,’ I solely had a imprecise information of horse racing,” Vaninabear stated. “One of many appeals of this sequence is that it makes use of stylized tales that incorporate components from the true lives of horses, such because the Gold Ship’s beginning gate incident on the 2015 Takarazuka Kinen, Meishodoto’s friendship together with his cat, and the shedding streak of Haruurara, who has a lovable temperament.” Followers of the anime shall be hooked on the lives of the true horses that impressed the sequence, and clearly that may spark an curiosity in horses for right this moment’s era of racehorses. ”
“I really like the best way the Uma Musume anime sequence turns a two-minute race right into a suspenseful drama, even when it is cut up into a number of episodes,” she continued. “It is like watching an actual horse race, and you may’t assist however be moved by their nice athletic feats and dedication to complete first.”
Baninabear was significantly impressed by Season 2, which was launched in early 2021. This season focuses on the true story of Tokai Teio, Japan’s 1991 Horse of the Yr and 1992 Japan Cup winner. In the direction of the top of the 1992 season, he was sidelined with a foot harm that saved him out of motion for a 12 months. He returned to racing with a victory on the 1993 Arima Kinen and ended his profession in type. This sort of comeback story could be thrilling to most sports activities followers, however presenting it by means of the Uma Musume platform permits us to make it recognized to a demographic which may by no means have recognized in any other case.
“Season 2 of the anime was launched at a time after I was going by means of a tough interval of feeling alone through the pandemic lockdown,” Vaninabear recollects. “The story of Tokai Teio overcoming many adversities and setbacks touched my coronary heart deeply and made me really feel like I too may persevere it doesn’t matter what hardships have been thrown at me.The truth that the anime Tokai Teio relies on the true Tokai Teio makes the story much more thrilling. There are actual athletes who’ve been in a position to accomplish these wonderful feats, and other people need to have a cause to attach with and root for his or her horses, identical to every other celeb or athlete.
Curiosity within the sequence has additionally begun to unfold to American anime followers’ curiosity in Japanese racing.
“The Japan Cup footage of Admire Terra ending the race with no jockey went viral on the Uma Musume fan web page, and I attended a Discord viewing social gathering for the 2025 Arima Kinen, the place 1000’s of individuals watched the stream on the identical time,” Vaninabear stated. “Followers have been very taken with characters like Jockey Taketoyo (who made a cameo look within the anime).”
Slowly however certainly, Uma Musume is starting to make inroads into American horse racing. Anime followers within the Phoenix space hosted a meet-and-greet at Turf Paradise on December twenty seventh. Dozens of anime followers skilled reside racing for the primary time, producing a whole bunch of 1000’s of impressions on social media within the course of.
“As a result of we deliberate it on a particular race day, we allowed free admission and extra actions for households, making your complete observe expertise extra vibrant and energetic,” stated Cloudy, a digital artist who organizes animated occasions in Arizona. “You can really feel the thrill and curiosity that a few of the Uma Musume followers had inside our group, and I feel our presence helped to additional improve the colourful environment on the observe that day. It was an enormous success and actually reveals how a lot ardour our neighborhood has for this sport franchise.”
Santa Anita Park, a number of hundred miles to the west, has additionally turn out to be a hotspot for anime followers. In October, a cosplay and fan assembly occasion was held on the truck as a part of the annual Japan Household Day. Two months later, on December 28, extra anime followers flocked to the “Nice Race Place” at the side of Cygames’ sponsorship of one of many day’s featured races, the American Oaks.
This was the primary 12 months that Cygames sponsored the American Oaks. They’d a licensing settlement with Santa Anita for a number of years to show the observe within the sport, however following Uma Musume’s rising reputation and the success of influencers and cosplayers taking part in Japan Household Day in 2024, the 2 firms agreed to a multi-year sponsorship of the race.
Though the fan meetup wasn’t an official occasion, the observe knew they have been coming and instructed playing ambassadors to provide the group particular entry all through the day. Followers took full benefit.
“The environment was so festive and energetic!” Vanina Bear stated. “I used to be stunned at how crowded it was, however there have been so many individuals there to benefit from the stunning climate and watch the race. It was an excellent feeling to face on the end line and cheer together with all of the members. There was an enormous surge of power operating by means of the gang because the group approached the end line.”
“I do not assume many attendees have been anticipating to see cosplayers on the occasion, however we talked to lots of people who have been and enthusiastic about all of the costumes. One of many good issues about understanding just a little little bit of horse historical past in Uma Musume is that a variety of horse racing followers are accustomed to the horses featured within the sport. A few of my favourite conversations have been with individuals who knew about Vodka, Daiwa Scarlet, and Oguri Cap, to call a number of.
“I additionally tried playing,” she continued. “I used to be a newbie and did not have a lot perception into technique. I primarily learn professional suggestions on the Santa Anita web site and listened to strategies from associates. I solely positioned small bets. However I felt very invested within the final result of the race and successful and had a good time.”
The occasion left an enormous digital footprint. Baninabear’s posts concerning the day acquired hundreds of thousands of impressions and over 106,400 likes throughout X (previously Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
“The fandom is big, and my Uma Musume cosplay posts have been getting fairly various views on different platforms like Instagram (my essential web page) and YouTube,” Vanina Bear stated. “What stunned me was who they have been interacting with! Plenty of Japanese followers have been excited to see Uma Musume turn out to be so in style in America, however I feel the Individuals who noticed the cosplay on the racetrack have been shocked as a result of this was a really sudden crossover.”
Santa Anita administration was pleasantly stunned by Uma Musume’s affect that day.
“The primary day actually opened our eyes to how a lot traction they’d,” stated Andrew Arthur, Santa Anita’s senior director of selling. “Once we grew to become an official associate with Cygames, it actually took off. We had seen a big group at Japan Household Days, however the first day was truthfully fairly shocking to us, each on social media and within the variety of cosplayers and influencers in attendance. The attain of that group was fairly wonderful.”
The crossover has sparked skepticism on social media, with many naysayers dismissing the concept the animated sequence is a far cry from the standard approach of selling horse racing and will have a big constructive affect on the game. Nonetheless, many within the horse racing and anime world consider the sequence may have the identical affect on horse racing in America because it has in Japan.
“Horse racing is perceived by younger individuals as an previous man’s sport and a playing venue,” Klein stated. “Socially,[Uma Musume]softens the exterior notion of horse racing and makes it appear extra approachable. These new followers are taken with playing, however they’re additionally within the animals themselves. This creates nice potential for actions reminiscent of aftercare to realize much more consideration.”
“There’s positively room for skepticism about how a lot it will possibly do,” Klein continued. “I do not understand how a lot of an affect it is going to have on the horse racing business. However what I do know is that there will not be a variety of destructive affect from new younger individuals publicly expressing curiosity within the sport. It prices nothing to carry new individuals into horse racing and it provides horse racing a possibility to maneuver into the longer term and enchantment to the subsequent era.”
Vanina Bear, whose Uma Musume is a major instance of the form of followers drawn to American horse racing, can be optimistic.
“There may be large potential. I feel it’s nice that Cygames has chosen to provide again to the horse racing business by investing in racing occasions. There may be nice curiosity in taking part in races the place Cygames is listed as a sponsor. It spreads the phrase on social media and sends a sign that the racetrack generally is a place to fulfill fellow followers.”
“It may have an amazing affect on attracting younger individuals to racing,” stated Andrew Arthur, Santa Anita Park’s senior director of selling.
The second Uma Musume occasion at Turf Paradise shall be held on January nineteenth. In the meantime, Santa Anita might not have recognized about Uma Musume’s attain till opening day, however they’re able to proceed spreading the phrase to anime followers with a multi-year sponsorship cope with Cygames.
“I feel it may have a big impact on attracting younger individuals to racing,” Arthur stated. “Having the ability to see Santa Anita in-game and see Santa Anita in actual life and see the horses operating will increase consciousness for individuals who may not have been in any other case.”
Klein stated in a presentation concerning the sequence on the World Horse Racing Symposium in December. “Will an American Pharoah in a miniskirt resolve all our issues? No, however it’s an excellent begin.”
