Japan’s popular video game franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, which blends anime culture with horse racing, has inspired a unique collaboration in Malaysia’s Selangor Turf Club (STC). From February 1 to 8, local Umamusume fans were given the rare opportunity to name four Irish-bred racehorses, brand a racing stable, and design jockey silks—activities traditionally reserved for horse owners. This initiative, proposed by STC’s CEO Datuk Michael Fong Chee Poong, aims to engage younger audiences by connecting the anime’s horse-themed characters with real-world racing, modernizing the sport’s image, and celebrating the Year of the Horse.
The collaboration was developed in close partnership with the Umamusume fan community, ensuring creative freedom while adhering to Malaysian Racing Association rules on naming and intellectual property. Winners’ chosen names and designs will be permanently associated with the horses and stable, appearing in official race records and broadcasts. This initiative not only offers fans a symbolic and immersive experience but also fosters ongoing engagement between the anime fandom and the horse racing community, positioning horse racing as a sport that honors tradition while embracing new cultural influences.
