Horse racing and the gaming community have bid farewell to a true four-legged legend. On Sunday, August 23, the thoroughbred Nakayama Festa, remembered as the direct inspiration for a character in Uma Musume Pretty Derby, died at 20 years old on a retirement farm in Hokkaido after suffering severe physical deterioration that prevented him from standing.

Born in April 2006 as the offspring of the famous Stay Gold, Nakayama Festa began his career at racecourses in 2008. Over 15 official races, he accumulated five prestigious wins, including his victory in the 2010 Takarazuka Kinen, a Group 1 tournament where he defeated top-tier rivals like Buena Vista. That same year, he traveled to France to compete in the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where he achieved a historic second place that nearly brought international glory to Japanese horse racing.

After retiring from the tracks at the end of 2011 with earnings exceeding 400 million yen, the horse began his career as a stud in 2012. His offspring produced champions like Ganko and Babbitt, keeping his legacy alive in professional horse racing until his final retirement in 2023, when he spent his last years in the peaceful pastures of Hokkaido.

In the popular multimedia franchise developed by Cygames, the character based on Nakayama Festa is portrayed as a rebellious girl who loves risk, betting, and intense emotions. This unique personality was designed as a direct tribute to the aggressive and unpredictable racing style that characterized the real horse during his golden era on the track.

The character debuted in the game as a support card before becoming playable, where her story arc pays tribute to the bold international tours the thoroughbred undertook in European territory. His passing marks the farewell of another great name that helped bridge traditional horse racing and the anime world.

Did you use Nakayama Festa on your team in the game or know about the historic achievements of this legendary thoroughbred on the real tracks of Japan and Europe?