Haru Urara, the Japanese racehorse celebrated for her perseverance despite never winning a race, has died at the age of 29. Her death was confirmed on 9 September 2025 by Martha Farm in Onjuku, Chiba, where she had lived since 2013. Staff and veterinarians reported she passed in the early hours after suffering from colic, a serious digestive condition.
Foaled in Hokkaido in 1996, Haru Urara competed professionally from 1998 to 2004. Over the course of 113 starts, she failed to record a victory, but her persistence made her a national figure. Media attention in the early 2000s highlighted her losing streak, transforming her into a cultural icon. In 2003, she ran before a full crowd at Nakayama Racecourse in a nationally televised event. Although she finished without a win, she was dubbed the “shining star of losers everywhere,” symbolizing resilience and hope for many in Japan.
Beyond racing, Haru Urara’s influence extended into popular culture. Betting slips featuring her name became popular charms for good fortune and traffic safety. After retiring in 2004, she remained in the public eye, even recording a symbolic victory in a 2019 time-trial event for older horses.
Her legacy deepened with her inclusion in the hit multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, where she appeared as a character embodying her cheerful and determined persona. The global release of the game in June 2025 prompted fans worldwide to support her in real life. Through crowdfunding initiatives such as the “Fresh Hay Bank,” thousands donated ryegrass feed to her farm, demonstrating the lasting impact of her story.
Haru Urara’s death comes just weeks after Grass Wonder, another racehorse featured in Umamusume, died at the age of 30.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ