One of Umamusume: Pretty Derby’s Real-World Horses Has Passed Away

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One of the real-world racehorses that served as inspiration for a beloved character in the popular game Umamusume: Pretty Derby has sadly passed away. This horse had an illustrious career, earning respect and admiration throughout the racing world. The game, which imaginatively portrays famous racehorses as anthropomorphized characters, has been a massive success since its global release in late June. Umamusume: Pretty Derby saw rapid growth on Steam, with tens of thousands of players, even surpassing the player count for other notable Steam games like Persona 5: The Phantom X during the same period. Now, the game’s community is deeply saddened by the loss of one of the racehorses that inspired a fan-favorite character.

As a passionate gamer immersed in the world of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, I’ve been fortunate enough to gather an array of extraordinary characters for my team, each one modeled after their real-world counterparts. Characters like Special Week, Tokai Teio, and Oguri Cap have graced the franchise with their presence, leaving significant impacts in the anime adaptations.

Umamusume doesn’t just stop at providing a rich cast; it also offers a multitude of real-life races for players to conquer, including the Japanese Triple Crown and Triple Tiara, among others.

However, today, we bid farewell to one of Umamusume‘s most influential inspirations. The fanbase is saying goodbye in a bittersweet tribute.

Last week, Cygames announced that one of the real-world counterparts for the game character, Grass Wonder from Umamusume, had sadly passed away on August 8th. The company expressed their sympathies to all those who looked after this horse during its lifetime, as it had run its final professional race in the year 2000. Grass Wonder was recognized as a member of the esteemed “Golden Generation” in Japanese horse racing, alongside other horses like Special Week, Seiun Sky, and El Condor Pasa, who are also depicted in Umamusume.

Umamusume Announces Real-World Grass Wonder Has Passed Away

In a nutshell, Grass Wonder, a remarkable Japanese racehorse who’s known as the “real-life” counterpart in the anime series Umamusume, has left an indelible mark on history. Throughout his career, he claimed victory in four prestigious Grade 1 races, including two consecutive wins at the Arima Kinen in 1998 and 1999, as well as the Takarazuka Kinen in 1999. Interestingly, Grass Wonder had the honor of racing against another significant character from Umamusume, Special Week, in each of these three races. This year in February, our real-world equine hero turned thirty years old.

The departure of Grass Wonder is anticipated to leave a lasting impact on the world of Umamusume and its fanbase, moving forward. In the initial season of the anime, the character of Grass Wonder from Umamusume held significant importance and can currently be found as a two-star Trainee within the mobile game. Notably, Grass Wonder is among several characters scheduled to receive new versions in upcoming updates, with the Japanese edition featuring both “Fantasy” and “New Year’s” versions. Fans of Umamusume will have ample opportunities to commemorate Grass Wonder’s legacy within the game, both now and in the future.

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2025-08-11 00:12