From an American perspective, horse racing and anime franchises sound like strange bedfellows. Their demographics could hardly be more disparate, with racing featuring a primarily older demographic, while anime generally appeals more to younger generations who usually aren\u2019t into sports, let alone a niche sport like horse racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cUmamusume: Pretty Derby<\/a>\u201d \u2014 which translates roughly to \u201chorse girls\u201d in English \u2014 seeks to defy expectations and bridge the two worlds. First launched as a television series in 2018, then adapted as a video game in 2021, Umamusume is a phenomenon in the horse-crazy nation of Japan. It\u2019s inspired several spin-off TV shows, a play, and a series of manga (Japanese comic books).<\/p>\n The anime series takes place in a world where \u2014 instead of racehorses \u2014 horse girls race. These girls have horse ears, tails, and can run 40 miles per hour, just like Thoroughbreds. The girls attend a racing boarding school where they train and race. Most characters share the names and stories of real horses from Japanese racing history, told in a humanized, fantastical way.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The video game series tells the Umamusume story from a trainer\u2019s perspective. Players assume the role of trainer and help train the girls to race. Most of the game is dedicated to preparing for races, giving those not familiar with racing insight into how horses are prepared for competition.<\/p>\n By combining already beloved Japanese horses with appealing characters and intriguing storylines, Umamusume has built up a massive following in Japan, becoming a multi-billion-dollar media franchise.<\/p>\n Learn more about \u201cUmamusume: Pretty Derby\u201d with America\u2019s Best Racing\u2019s Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Cygames, the developer and publisher of the \u201cUmamusume\u201d franchise, has a close relationship with the Japan Racing Association<\/a>, and the JRA credits the series with helping boost the sport\u2019s already-high profile in Japan. The concept may seem bizarre to an American, but anthropomorphization is not uncommon in the world of Japanese anime.<\/p>\n \u201cAnime has a history of very weird and out-there concepts. Especially personifying things that are not human,\u201d said Nathan Klein<\/a>, a student in the University of Arizona\u2019s Racetrack Industry Program<\/a> and anime fan. \u201cIf you thought making racehorses into women was nuts, there are anime where countries in World War II, battleships, and guns are all personified. This includes sports anime; some of the most popular series follow less-mainstream sports like figure skating and volleyball. Introducing people who otherwise have never heard of a subject through cute girls and a bright art style is common in anime.\u201d<\/p>\n In June 2025, the game was released globally. The United States instantly became its biggest international market, accounting for 68% of all overseas spending and 34% of total global revenue. Longtime anime fans such as Baninabear<\/a>, a Los Angeles-area cosplayer, were already big fans of the series long before its stateside debut.<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up obsessed with horses \u2014 I studied horse encyclopedias and drew pictures of horses constantly as a kid \u2014 but I was only vaguely familiar with horse racing until I started watching \u2018Umamusume: Pretty Derby,\u2019 \u201d Baninabear said. \u201cOne of the draws of the series is how it utilizes elements of horses\u2019 real lives as stylized story beats, whether that\u2019s something like Gold Ship\u2019s<\/a> starting gate incident at the 2015 Takarazuka Kinen, Meisho Doto\u2019s<\/a> friendship with a farm cat, or Haru Urara<\/a>\u2019s losing streak with a loveable disposition. It makes fans of the anime invested in the lives of the real horses who inspired the series, and obviously that can spark an interest in today\u2019s generation of racehorses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love the way the \u2018Umamusume\u2019 anime series turns the two-minute duration of a race into a drama that leaves you on the edge of your seat, even if it\u2019s stretched to a multi-episode arc.\u201d she continued. \u201cJust like watching a race with real horses, you can\u2019t help but be moved by the enormous athletic feat and will of getting to the finish line first.\u201d<\/p>\n Baninabear was particularly inspired by Season 2, which was released in early 2021. The season focuses on the real-life story of Tokai Teio<\/a>, the 1991 Japanese Horse of the Year and 1992 Japan Cup winner. Towards the end of the 1992 season, he was sidelined by a leg injury that kept him out of action for a year. He returned to the races with a win in the 1993 Arima Kinen, ending his career on a triumphant note. That type of comeback story would be inspiring to most sports fans, but showcasing it through the Umamusume platform brings it to a demographic that might never have known about it otherwise.<\/p>\n \u201cSeason 2 of the anime came out during the pandemic lockdown when I was having a rough time, feeling isolated.\u201d Baninabear recalls. \u201cThe story of Tokai Teio overcoming so much adversity and setback resonated with me deeply and made me feel like I could also persevere through any difficulties that came my way. Anime Tokai Teio\u2019s basis on the real Tokai Teio makes the story all the more inspiring \u2014 there\u2019s a real athlete who was able to achieve these incredible feats. People want to have a reason to connect with and root for horses just like any other public or sporting figure. Understanding the arc of their history and career creates investment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Interest in the series has started to spill over to interest in Japanese racing for American anime fans.<\/p>\n \u201cFootage from the Japan Cup where Admire Terra finished the race sans jockey went viral on Umamusume fan pages, and I joined a Discord watch party for the 2025 Arima Kinen with thousands of people watching the stream simultaneously.\u201d Baninabear said. \u201cFans were very interested in figures like jockey Yutaka Take [who was featured as a cameo character in the anime].\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly but surely, Umamusume has begun to make its way into American racing. Phoenix-area anime fans hosted a meetup at Turf Paradise on Dec. 27. Dozens of anime fans experienced live racing for the first time, generating hundreds of thousands of social media impressions in the process.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause we scheduled it on a special race day, which allowed for free admission and additional activities for families, there was a much more lively and energetic feel to the overall track experience.\u201d said Cloudie<\/a>, a digital artist who organizes anime events in Arizona. \u201cYou could feel the excitement and curiosity that some of the Umamusume fans had within our group. I think our presence helped add to that lively atmosphere at the track that day. It was a great success and really shows how much passion our community has for this game franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n A few hundred miles west, Santa Anita Park<\/a> has also become a hotspot for anime fans. In October, there was an organized cosplay and fan meetup event at the track as part of the annual Japan Family Day. Two months later, on Dec. 28, more anime fans descended on \u201cThe Great Race Place,\u201d tying in their trip with Cygames\u2019 sponsorship of one of the day\u2019s feature races, the American Oaks<\/a>.<\/p>\n This was the first year Cygames sponsored the American Oaks. They had a licensing deal with Santa Anita for several years to show the track in their game, but with Umamusume\u2019s rise in popularity and the success of having influencers and cosplayers at the 2024 Japan Family Day, the sides agreed to a multi-year sponsorship for the race.<\/p>\n Although the fan meetup was not a formal event, the track knew they were coming and instructed their wagering ambassadors to give the groups special access throughout the day. The fans took full advantage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe atmosphere was so festive and energetic!\u201d Baninabear said. \u201cI was surprised by how crowded it was, but so many people were there to enjoy the beautiful weather and have a good time watching some racing. It felt amazing to stand up by the finish line and cheer with all the attendees; there\u2019s this enormous swell of energy that moves through the crowd as the pack closes into the finish.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of attendees did not expect to see cosplayers at the event, but I talked to lots of people who were curious and excited about all the costumes. One of the neat things about knowing a little horse history from Umamusume is that a number of racing fans are familiar with horses that have been adapted in the game. Some of my favorite conversations were with people who knew about Vodka, Daiwa Scarlet, and Oguri Cap to name a few.<\/p>\n \u201cI also got to try out wagering.\u201d she continued. \u201cSince I\u2019m new to it and don\u2019t have a lot of strategy insights \u2014 I mostly read the expert picks on the Santa Anita website and heard suggestions from friends \u2014 I only placed small bets. But I had a delightful time feeling so invested in the race outcomes and winning!\u201d<\/p>\n The event left a massive digital footprint. Baninabear\u2019s posts about the day received several million impressions and more than 106,400 likes between X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.<\/p>\n