Haru Urara dies at 29: losing-streak icon’s record and legacy

TL;DR:

Haru Urara died on 9 September 2025 at a farm in Chiba.
Reports cite colic as the cause of death.
She raced 113 times from 1998 to 2004 and never won.
A 2004 race with Yutaka Take drew huge crowds and betting.
Her story surged again via the Umamusume game and fan donations.

Haru Urara, Japan’s most famous underdog racehorse, died on 9 September 2025 at Martha (Matha) Farm in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture. Farm staff confirmed the news to local media.

Multiple outlets report colic as the cause of death. Colic is a common, sometimes fatal, gastrointestinal condition in horses.

Quick background

Haru Urara was a bay mare foaled on 27 February 1996 in Hokkaido. She ran at Kōchi Racecourse from 1998 to 2004. Her final career line was 113 starts, 0 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds.

Her losing streak turned her into a national symbol of grit. Coverage exploded in 2003 as the streak approached triple digits. Fans began buying single-win tickets as good-luck charms.

The day the craze peaked

On 22 March 2004, superstar jockey Yutaka Take rode Haru Urara at Kōchi. More than ten thousand fans braved rain to watch her 106th loss, and nationwide betting on her surged. The moment cemented her celebrity.

The “Haru boom” spread beyond racing. People bought her tickets as omamori, a charm said to keep cars from being “hit,” a wordplay that matched her “no hit” results.

Career at a glance

Item	Detail
Foaled	27 February 1996
Debut	17 November 1998, Kōchi
Total starts	113
Record	0-5-7
Final season	2004
Retirement	Mid-2000s, later moved to a Chiba farm
Source data: Japan Bloodhorse Information System (JBIS) and historical reports.

After the track

Haru Urara spent her retirement at a small farm in Chiba. Fans continued to visit, and local police even used her image in a traffic-safety campaign, nodding to the “no hit” charm story.

In August 2025, global interest spiked again thanks to the Umamusume: Pretty Derby game. Fans sent premium ryegrass to retired horses, briefly crashing a donation site. Haru Urara was a leading beneficiary.

Why she mattered

Haru Urara’s appeal was simple. She showed up, every time. Her story resonated in a period when many in Japan felt economic strain. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi even praised her spirit in Parliament in 2004.

She helped keep a struggling local track in the spotlight. She also reframed how fandom works, proving that effort and heart can beat results in the public’s mind.

Five key milestones

Debut at Kōchi on 17 November 1998, finishing last
Streak hits 80 by mid-2003, triggering national media attention.
Yutaka Take ride on 22 March 2004, 106th loss amid packed stands and heavy betting.
Career total reaches 113 starts with zero wins, per official ledger.
Passing on 9 September 2025, age 29, reports cite colic.

What fans are asking now

Was she ever in danger after retirement? Reports over the years stressed she was safe at a private farm, supported by donations and steady visitor interest.
How accurate is the Umamusume version? The character lifts her cheer and pink gear vibe, but the real mare had calmer farm days and a more rounded personality, per her farm diary posts.
Will there be a public memorial? No official details yet. Watch local Kōchi and Chiba outlets for announcements.

Perspective

Haru Urara flipped sports logic. Losing never defined her worth. She lit up a community, propped up a racetrack, and sparked kindness toward retired horses two decades later. That is a legacy most champions would envy.

Viewer checklist

Revisit the 2004 coverage to see the frenzy and why it mattered.
Read the official race ledger to understand how often she ran.
If you share tributes, credit the farm and avoid crowds at private facilities.

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Suggested Article schema:
- headline: “Haru Urara dies at 29: losing-streak icon’s record and legacy”
- datePublished: 2025-09-09
- dateModified: 2025-09-09
- author: ClubRive
- publisher: ClubRive
- image: https://{your-cdn}/haru-urara-tribute-1200×630.jpg