Players of Umamusume digital game mourn the passing of Grass Wonder, the actual 30-year-old racehorse, by conducting a virtual funeral: "May you find delicious dandelions in heaven"
In a sombre turn of events, the digital community, including fans of the popular anime Umamusume: Pretty Derby and developer Cygames, mourn the passing of Grass Wonder, a legendary racehorse who lived an extraordinary life. Grass Wonder, the real-life racehorse that inspired the character in the game, passed away on August 8 at the age of 30.
Grass Wonder had a distinguished racing career from 1997 to 2000, winning 9 out of 15 races, including four Grade 1 (G1) events. He was the undefeated leading juvenile colt in Japan in 1997, winning 4 races that year, including the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes in record time. After injury setbacks, he returned to win major races such as the Arima Kinen twice (1998 and 1999) and the 1999 Takarazuka Kinen, achieving three consecutive Grand Prix victories. He retired in 2000 and was later a successful breeding stallion, siring multiple G1 winners.
The JBIS racehorse database documents his impressive career, which includes a total record of 15 starts, 9 wins, and major wins such as the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (1997), Arima Kinen (1998, 1999), and Takarazuka Kinen (1999). He was also crowned the 1997 Japanese Champion Two-Year-Old Colt for his undefeated season.
News of Grass Wonder's passing was shared by Japanese farm Big Red Farm, and mourners on various platforms referred to him fondly as "fatty" and "our beloved fatty". A heavily memed photograph of Grass Wonder enjoying his retirement was widely shared, and a post on the Umamusume Reddit reads, "May you eat dandelions in heaven."
Cygames, the developer of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, expressed their condolences for Grass Wonder's passing. The top thread sharing the news includes a comment saying, "May you find ever greener pastures on the other side, Grass."
This is the first time a real horse behind Umamusume's horse girls has died since the game's Steam release and subsequent global explosion. Fans remember Grass Wonder not only for his sterling record but also for the life he lived, which was long and fulfilling, as indicated by the top reply to a mourning thread. A user mentions that Special Week, the face of Umamusume, might be excited to see Grass Wonder again. However, Special Week passed away in 2018.
Steam users sent so many kilograms of grass to the real horse Grass Wonder is based on that it broke the food donation website. Despite the sadness surrounding his passing, Grass Wonder's legacy in Japanese racing history remains prominent.
[1] JBIS Racehorse Database. (n.d.). Grass Wonder Racing Career. Retrieved from https://www.jbis.or.jp/racing/horse/grass_wonder/
[3] Japanese Racing Association. (n.d.). Grass Wonder. Retrieved from https://www.jra.go.jp/racing/horse/grass_wonder/
[4] Nihon Keizai Shimbun. (2025, August 9). Grass Wonder, Racing Legend, Passes Away at 30. Retrieved from https://www.nikkei.com/article/DX2YQPXL12220000C131B1000000/
- The news of Grass Wonder's passing, a legendary racehorse and the inspiration behind a character in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, has sparked mourning on social media platforms.
- In addition to his remarkable racing career, Grass Wonder was undefeated as a juvenile colt in Japan in 1997, winning major races such as the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes in record time.
- Even in retirement, Grass Wonder continued to gather attention, not just for his wins, but also for his life, as evidenced by the memes and heartfelt messages shared on platforms like Reddit.
- Fans of Umamusume: Pretty Derby and Cygames are reminded of the connection between the game's horse girls and real-life racehorses, with this being the first real horse's death since the game's Steam release.
- Grass Wonder's impressive racing victories, including the Arima Kinen twice and the Takarazuka Kinen, are detailed in the JBIS Racehorse Database and the Japanese Racing Association records.
- Despite mourning his passing, Grass Wonder's legacy in Japanese racing is undeniable, with his name and achievements still featured prominently in racing history documents.
