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SARGA.CO – The Uma Musume Pretty Derby (UMPD) craze is no longer just a virtual trend—it’s galloping into real life. Most recently, a gamer from the UK going by the username Oxijinn_ admitted that his obsession with Cygames’ horse-girl simulation led him to make a bold move: investing in a real-life racehorse.
UMPD is a simulation game that blends horse racing with the world of moe anime girls, each representing legendary Japanese racehorses. While the game originally launched in 2021, it only gained global attention following its official English release in 2025.
In a post on Reddit’s official forum, Oxijinn_ revealed that his love for UMPD inspired him to level up—from training virtual horse-girls to owning an actual racehorse.
“If I can train and invest in horses in a game, why not try the real thing?” he wrote, as quoted by Dexerto.
And he wasn’t kidding. Oxi registered as a co-owner of a racehorse named Jax Belle, managed by Cheryl Burton in the UK. The horse is trained by Lucy Wadham and ridden by jockey Tom Cannon.
As a part-owner, Oxi helps cover the horse’s maintenance costs, which amount to around GBP 6,000 (approximately IDR 131 million). While he doesn’t handle day-to-day care, he does get access to live races and stable visits.
Jax Belle made her racing debut on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Uttoxeter Racecourse in Staffordshire. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as smoothly as hoped.
“She finished last. But like in the game, she was upset because another horse kicked her before the race,” Oxi explained.
Despite the rough start, Oxi remains optimistic—if anything, he feels the experience mirrors the Uma Musume storyline, where characters often struggle before reaching glory.
Global Phenomenon: From Weebs to Derby Spectators
The Uma Musume craze has also reached Indonesia. The Indonesian Derby 2025, held just a month after the game’s global release, drew massive attention from anime and gaming fans alike.
The event was streamed live by SARGA.CO and immediately flooded by curious viewers. Around 10,000 online spectators tuned in to watch King Argentine from King Halim Stable clinch the 2025 Indonesian Triple Crown title. Their reactions were nearly unanimous: “Umazing!”—a blend of “Uma” (horse in Japanese) and “Amazing.”
Oxi’s decision may seem extreme to some, but among Uma Musume fans, it’s not that unusual. Many players even travel to Japan to visit the real horses their favorite characters are based on, donate for their feed, or make pilgrimages to their graves.
This phenomenon proves that games aren’t just entertainment—they can create real emotional bonds and even change people’s lives. Just like Oxi, who is now officially part of the real-world horse racing scene.
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