The Nice Nature Memorial Donation is an annual month-long initiative aimed at collecting funds to support retired racehorses. Named after the renowned Japanese thoroughbred, the campaign has accumulated over $1.8 million USD in a decade, with significant contributions attributed to the horse’s inclusion in various Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise projects.
Originally dubbed the “Nice Nature Birthday Donation,” the fund was established on April 16, 2017, to honor Nice Nature’s 29th birthday. While donations remained steady in the first four years, they saw a dramatic surge, jumping from 1.08 million JPY (approximately $11k USD) in 2020 to 35.8 million JPY ($225k USD) in 2021. This surge coincided with the Japanese launch of Umamusume: Pretty Derby on February 24, 2021. Despite Nice Nature’s passing on May 30, 2023, at 35 years old, the campaign was rebranded and continues to thrive.
This year’s Nice Nature Memorial Donation raised over 48 million JPY ($302k USD) – 195% of its initial target – within just over a month. Retired Racehorses Association representative director Kyoko Numata noted on the campaign’s official webpage that the campaign received a “tremendous response” from global supporters, partly due to the 2025 worldwide release of Umamusume: Pretty Derby.
The funds will enable the association to care for more retired racehorses, while also expanding its network of foster parent members to provide personalized support for each horse.
Mido