In 2016, Cygames Inc. announced the Umamusume: Pretty Derby mobile. Featuring anthropomorphized versions of Japanese racehorses, at first, the game seemed like another quirky gacha. At first Umamusume seemed like a game that would have made Cygames a bit of money and fall to the wayside, instead it became their route to world domination. From a humble mobile game to a franchise that has found its way into the lofty halls of renowned institutions like the Kentucky Derby Umamusume became an anime powerhouse. From Argentina to Zimbabwe, the franchise has ushered a horse racing revival, and it’s that revival that leads us to Thailand’s Royal Bangkok Sport Club (RBSC).
Imagine this: you’re a Thai horse racing fan, far removed from the anime world. One day, you attend your local racecourse dressed in your Sunday best, and suddenly, a bunch of Gen Z kids are running around dressed as horses. To add to the confusion, at the end of the day’s races, those kids take to the turf and sprint towards the finish line. But this strange spectacle isn’t a spontaneous occurrence; it’s an RBSC-endorsed Umamusume cosplay race.
By now, die-hard international Umamusume fans know that cosplay races are surging across Southeast Asia, but few know how and why. So we at Anime Corner reached out to the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and had the opportunity to chat with Charles Guenard of RBSC’s Racing Department about their willingness to host past and upcoming Umamusume cosplay racing events! We also got to talk to Nat Phanphitphat of NextMeet (the event’s organizer) about what Umamusume fans can expect at the December 7 Umamusume Community Event at the RBSC.
Q: Can you tell us how the idea of having Umamusume cosplayers race on RBSC’s turf came about?
A: We received a lot of requests from Thai cosplayers asking if we could make it happen. We knew other racetracks had hosted fan events, but no one had ever attempted a proper race under real horse racing conditions. So we thought, why not give it a try? It sounded fun, and the demand was clearly there.
Q: When the first cosplay race was held, what did veteran horse racing supporters and the RBSC team think about the event? Were the cosplay races accepted by the wider Thai sports community?
A: As with anything new, it took some time for long-time supporters to warm up to it. For us, it was a way to bring a younger crowd to the track.
Horse racing often has the reputation of being an older generation’s sport or something tied only to gambling, when in reality it’s an experience that everyone can enjoy. Introducing something playful like cosplay racing helped break that stereotype.
Q: How popular is horse racing in Thailand? Did the cosplay races affect its popularity?
Horse racing in Thailand had been declining until the new racing committee stepped in. Our goal is to modernize the sport and raise it to the level of Hong Kong or Japan. The Cosplay Racing event definitely boosted interest and brought more attention to what we’re doing.
Q: So it’s safe to say that the franchise attracted newer fans to the sport of horse racing?
Absolutely. And we hope it continues.
Q: Did you ever think that an anime about anthropomorphized horse girls would ignite such an ardent global interest in horse racing?
We were surprised when we first heard about it. It’s incredible that a concept like that became so big, but it’s a good thing. We welcome anything that brings more people into the world of horse racing.
Q: Which past Thai race horses you recommend for foreign Umamusume fans to check out?
It’s hard not to highlight Louisiana, Nong Narada, and Win The Day, who are still racing and are among the best Thai-bred horses today. Another one worth mentioning is Black Pearl. He was foaled in New Zealand but has raced only in Thailand. He’s probably the best horse I’ve seen run here, and we still don’t know where his limits are.
Q: The event info for the December cosplay races lists a total of six races. Can you provide further information about the cosplay races and the preceding horse races?
The King’s Cup meeting on December 7 is our biggest day of the year. There, top Thai horses compete for the country’s most prestigious trophy.
After the 10 official horse races, we’ll hold six cosplay races. We received around 300 entries, so six races with 16 runners each is the ideal format.
Q: What advice would you give to any Umamusume fans who take an interest in real-life horses and decide to either attempt to race or own one?
If you want to own a racehorse, never do it for the money. A horse is a living being, and there is never a guarantee it will win. You need to love the sport and care about the animal above everything else. That mindset is essential.
Q: Lastly, is there a place where international viewers can watch the event’s races?
Yes. Everything is streamed live on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@RBSCRacing
Royal Bangkok Sports Club Details
The RBSC was established on September 6, 1901, by sportsmen led by the Russian Consul-General Alexander Olarovsky. The first RBSC horse race took place two years after the club was granted royal assent in 1903. A membership-only club, the RBSC’s grandstand is only open to the general public during its fortnightly horse races.
Anime Corner and the author of this article would like to thank Charles Guenard and the Royal Bangkok Sports Club for giving us the opportunity to conduct this interview and talk about their event and the Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise. Check out there website here. All images used in this post belong to RBSC.
Parts of this interview were edited to improve the flow of the article.
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