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Prince Loupan became the talk of the track after his antics at the 2025 Merdeka Cup. In a 1,000-meter race, while leading the pack, this young horse suddenly veered off the track before the finish line, giving up victory in the blink of an eye.

The move, which had the crowd in stitches, immediately drew comparisons to Gold Ship from the game/anime Uma Musume: Pretty Derby—a horse known for blazing speed and wildly unpredictable behavior.

A video clip of Prince Loupan sprinting and then darting off course went viral on TikTok and X, making him Indonesia’s new racing icon.

In real life, Gold Ship is one of Japan’s most famous racehorses—not just for winning multiple G1 races, but for causing chaos before (or during) competitions.

Once, when heavily favored to win, Gold Ship threw the starting gate into disarray, refused to run, and simply strolled while the rest of the field thundered ahead. His antics cost bettors millions of yen.

Yet that’s exactly why Gold Ship became one of Japan’s most beloved horses, now immortalized as a charming, mischievous anime character.

Haru Urara’s story is both ironic and touching. Over the course of 113 races, she never won a single one.

But it was her unbroken losing streak that made her a symbol of perseverance. During Japan’s economic slump, Haru Urara was celebrated as “the star of the underdogs,” proving that even defeat can carry meaning.

Videos, memes, and tributes to Haru Urara continue to circulate, keeping her legend alive long after her final race.

Trainers say racehorses are more than athletes—they each have distinct personalities. Some are fiercely competitive, others are shy, and some are pure drama queens.

Their quirks can stem from a noisy track environment, sudden mood shifts, ill-fitting gear or saddles, or simply a natural flair for stealing the spotlight.

In today’s digital era, spectators crave more than the fastest finish. They want stories, expressions, oddball moments, and individuality. Whether on purpose or by accident, these horses deliver.

So the next time you watch a race, don’t focus only on the winner. The real star might be the horse that sulks at the starting gate—or forgets the course and takes a hilarious wrong turn.

(Various sources)