How Haru Urara Died at 29: Japan’s Iconic Underdog Horse

Yes, you read that right—Haru Urara, Japan’s most famous losing racehorse, has passed away at 29. The mare who never won a race but still became a national symbol of hope, perseverance, and joy, took her last breath on September 9, 2025, due to colic at Martha Farm, Chiba Prefecture.

👉 But wait—this isn’t just a story about a horse’s death.
This is about how a loser became a legend, how a horse with 113 straight losses inspired millions, got a second life through anime, and even created a fan donation wave in 2025.

⚡ If you stop reading now, you’ll miss the fascinating details of how Haru Urara’s life went far beyond racing and why she’ll always be remembered.

Haru Urara Biography

• Name: Haru Urara (春うらら)

• Born: February 27, 1996 – Hokkaido, Japan

• Died: September 9, 2025 – Chiba, Japan

• Career Record: 113 starts, 0 wins

• Fame: “The shining star of losers everywhere”

• Cause of Death: Colic (serious intestinal disorder)

• Legacy: Cultural icon, featured in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, symbol of resilience

Who Was Haru Urara?

Haru Urara was no ordinary racehorse. She debuted in 1998 at Kōchi Racecourse. Despite a strong pedigree (sired by Nippo Teio), she never won a single race.

👉 Fact Check:

• 1998–2004 → 113 races, 0 wins

• Nickname: “The Invincible Loser”

• Fans bought her tickets as lucky charms, especially for safe driving 🚗

Instead of being forgotten, Haru Urara became a household name in Japan. Newspapers, TV shows, and even then-PM Junichiro Koizumi praised her resilience.

Why She Became a Legend Without Winning

Normally, racehorses that never win are retired quickly. But Haru Urara was different.

Reasons for Her Popularity:

• Underdog Story → Everyone loves to cheer for the one who never gives up.

• Cultural Symbol → Represented gaman (endurance) in Japanese culture.

• Media Hype → By 2003, she was a nationwide phenomenon.

• Merchandise & Lottery Tickets → Fans collected her race tickets as talismans.

📌 Lesson: Sometimes, losing consistently makes you more memorable than winning.

Did Haru Urara Ever Win?

This is where things get interesting!

In May 2019, long after retirement, Haru Urara ran a time trial and clocked 16.54 seconds.
🎉 This was her first and only "victory"—a symbolic win that delighted fans across Japan.

Haru Urara’s Global Fame Through Anime

Fast forward to 2025 → Haru Urara’s fame exploded again thanks to the anime-game Umamusume: Pretty Derby.

• She was reimagined as a cute horse girl in the game.

• International fans loved her backstory.

• In July 2025, fans donated over 2,500 kg of ryegrass via a "Fresh Hay Bank."

• The donation page even crashed because of her popularity!

💡 Proof of her cultural impact → A horse that never won in reality, but “won hearts” worldwide.

How Did Haru Urara Die?

On September 8, 2025, staff at Martha Farm noticed Haru Urara was not eating and not passing waste.
Despite immediate veterinary care, her condition worsened overnight.

By dawn on September 9, she passed away peacefully from colic, a common but dangerous intestinal illness in horses.

Farm officials confirmed her death and shared that she was surrounded by caretakers till the end.

Fan Tributes & Social Media Reactions

Within hours of the news:

• Twitter/X trended with hashtags #HaruUrara and #InvincibleLoser.

• Anime fans shared fan art and GIFs.

• Racing communities remembered her as a “symbol of hope.”

• Japanese media outlets called her “the horse that taught Japan to never give up.”

A User @TravelerJe1102 wrote on X:

Bye bye haru tou may have loss so much, but you have won all our hearts

— Je1102 (@TravelerJe1102) September 9, 2025

📢 Fans worldwide are planning online memorials and even in-game events in Umamusume.

Haru Urara’s Legacy vs Other Famous Racehorses

👉 Proof: Winning isn’t everything. Impact > Records.

Why Haru Urara Will Never Be Forgotten

Haru Urara’s story proves that victory is not the only path to greatness.
Even without a single win, she became:

• A cultural icon in Japan

• A global anime character

• A symbol of hope for underdogs everywhere

She may be gone, but Haru Urara will forever live in the hearts of those who cheered her, not for what she achieved, but for what she represented: “Never give up—even when the odds are against you.”