When you hear the name “Royal Bangkok Sports Club,” anime-related events are probably the last thing that comes to mind. But on September 14, this Thailand-based horse racing club surprised the anime world with something we never expected: a genuine live-action event. And it wasn’t just a cheesy 3D Netflix money grab; it was a club-sponsored Umamusume cosplay race!
Over the course of four races, Umamusume fans and cosplayers participated in 150-meter sprint races at the famous RBSC racecourse in downtown Bangkok. They made these cosplay races part of the day’s official events, occurring after the scheduled races, which ran from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Contestants competed for cash prizes, with the top three in each race receiving:
- 1st place = ฿3,000 (~ $94)
- 2nd place = ฿2,000 (~ $63)
- 3rd place = ฿1,000 (~ $31)
How Did an Umamusume Cosplay Race Happen?
The RBSC-sponsored event followed a large turnout of horse girlcosplayers at Thailand’s Queen Cup in August. Otaku-driven fans organized the Queen Cup’s Umamusume event, which featured mock races and photo sessions. Their vibrant display of love for the franchise caught the RBSC’s attention. Recognizing a golden opportunity to attract more people to horse racing, the club quickly announced several cosplay races. The Royal Bangkok Sports Club’s enthusiastic embrace of otaku culture is so strong that they even featured Umamusume on their Facebook banner. Truly… these are our people.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby Details
Long ago, someone at Cygames, Inc. looked at a horse and thought, “If we turn it into an anime girl, we’d be rich,” and thus, Umamusume was born. A Cygames franchise, Umamusume: Pretty Derby focuses on anthropomorphic versions of real racehorses. The franchise now includes several TV anime series, OVAs, ONAs, manga, video games, a theatrical film, and live-action Umamusume cosplay races. And of course, several presigious race-sponsorships and KFC collabs!
Source: Royal Bangkok Sport Club
© Cygames, Inc
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