Which mobile game character was inspired by Haru Urara? Famous Japanese racehorse dies at 29

Retired Japanese racehorse Haru Urara passed away at the age of 29 on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The brown mare was a popular figure among fans in the last few days of her life, following a massive rise in her popularity.

Haru Urara died in the early hours of September 9 at Martha Farm in Chiba. Several staff members were present during her final hours and cared for her in her last days. Ms. Miyahara, Urara's caretaker at the farm, said in a statement to Japanese entertainment site Friday Digital:

"Haru Urara was 29 years old, which would be nearly 90 years old in human terms, but she was in great health until yesterday."

According to Friday Digital, Urara died due to colic, a fatal disease in horses caused by the buildup of gas in the intestines. A vet was called after the horse's health deteriorated on September 8. Her condition worsened the next day while she was being looked after by staff members, before she breathed her last in the morning.

Earlier this year, a character named after and inspired by Haru Urara featured in the popular video game, Umamusume: Pretty Derby. She appeared as a pink-haired anime character in the game, voiced by Yukina Shuto. Following the release of the game, Urara saw a surge in her popularity, with many fans paying a visit to the beautiful mare on her farm.

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Haru Urara lost all her races during her prime years as a racing horse

Secretariat Winning the Kentucky Derby - Source: Getty

Haru Urara first rose to fame in 2003, after losing 80 races in a row since her debut in 1998. The brown hare is known to have lost all 113 races she participated in until her retirement in 2004. Urara was best known for her signature red and white Hello Kitty mask, which she wore during every race.

The word "Haru Urara" means "glorious spring" in Japanese. Many bettors would place a bet on her loss, as the horse was almost guaranteed to finish last in any race she took part in during her prime years. This type of bet is called "ataranai," or "to not be struck." These bets were also used as charms against unforeseen accidents on the road, costing over 3000 Japanese yen.

With Urara's growing popularity in Japan, merchandise based on the racing horse and her signature style saw a surge in demand. Stuffed toys of her likeness were sold as well and saw greater demand than her contemporary racing horses, which had a much better success rate. Urara's charm became her guaranteed loss in every race.

Even in the final days of her life at Martha Farm, Haru Urara received love and support from fans across Japan. Many visited her while she was in good health. Her caretaker, Ms. Miyahara, told Friday Digital:

"Recently, more and more people, not only from Japan but also from overseas, have been coming to see Haru Urara. So it’s really unfortunate."

On September 8, a day before Urara's death, one fan visited her and shared their experience on Facebook. In a post shared on a Umamusume discussion group, user Louie Severo wrote:

"So...I spent the weekend by visiting Haru Urara at her retirement home in Matha Farm, Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture. I'm glad to know that she's doing fine. She and her animal friends have no shortage of food as they're surrounded with greens, and fed with ryegrass donated by trainer overseas and with carrot sticks bought by visitors for 500 yen per bucket. Showed her this wholesome Urara artwork drawn by Jay-Em Carlo Rico (Hews) and she seemed to like it. She almost licked my iPad mini."

Severo also noted the popularity of the video game, claiming that they saw a lot of the game merch at the farm. Urara led a long, successful life, despite her charm of losing races she participated in. Her legacy will remain through her inspired character in the Umamusume: Pretty Derby video game.