Cygames
Umamusume: Pretty Derby took over Peru’s iconic Hipodromo de Monterrico as more than 5,000 fans gathered for Latin America’s first official cosplay race.
Officially backed by Umamusume devs, the event saw cosplayers take to the track in full horse girl costumes, as they prepared to sprint their hearts out for a chance to represent their favorite character and secure ultimate bragging rights.
According to an Instagram post from Chilean pop culture outlet FrikimaniaTV, the winner was Daniel Barrera, a 22-year-old mathematics student cosplaying none other than the legendary racehorse Haru Urara.
Umamusume cosplay race ends with Haru Urara winning
Haru Urara is based on the real-life Japanese racehorse that ran 113 races without a single win, but she always turned up and did her best.
It’s this never-give-up nature that led to her becoming a popular symbol of perseverance in Japan, and led to her popularity overseas, with fans even sending her gifts before she passed away.
So, as you can imagine, the irony of the franchise’s most famous underdog taking first place in a real-world race instantly became a hit with viewers.
“Of course, Haru Urara wins on dirt track,” wrote one commenter. “Not Haru Urara actually winning for once,” replied another.
Others were also keen to point out just how difficult the race was, as the event was held on a sandy dirt track designed for actual horses. So, running on it, let alone being crowned a winner, certainly isn’t an easy feat.
This isn’t the first time Umamusume has crossed over into the real world, as cosplayers also ran in the Thailand Queen’s Cup race in the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Umamusume fans have even helped restore Mejiro Ardan’s grave in China, and raised over $600,000 to rebuild horse stables in Japan.
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