SARGA.CO – Good news has arrived for fans of Uma Musume and Japanese horse racing. A crowdfunding campaign to renovate Northern Lake Farm, home to Meisho Doto, one of the legendary racehorses featured in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, reached its target of ¥15 million (around Rp1.6 billion) in just three hours after launching on Friday, October 24, 2025.
The campaign, organized via Readyfor.jp, began out of concern for the farm’s aging facilities. Since its acquisition in 2020, Northern Lake Farm has faced multiple issues: leaking and damaged roofs, low ceilings that make the stables feel stuffy, narrow passageways, and the absence of indoor bathing facilities — forcing caretakers to wash the horses outdoors, even during harsh weather.
Driven by community spirit and the passion of Meisho Doto’s fans, the farm decided to open public donations with an initial target of ¥15 million. To their surprise, the goal was reached — and exceeded — in just 3 hours and 48 minutes. Support poured in not only from Japan but also from the global Uma Musume and horse racing communities.
As of October 25, 2025, total donations have reached ¥47.8 million (around Rp5.1 billion), with the campaign set to continue until December 22, 2025.
Yoshie Sasaki, a representative of Northern Lake Farm, expressed deep gratitude to all supporters, admitting she never imagined such overwhelming enthusiasm.
“We knew Meisho Doto and our little cat, Meto, had many fans, but we never expected the target to be reached this fast,” Sasaki said.
Initially, the farm had planned to scale down renovations due to rising construction costs. However, thanks to the overwhelming support, Northern Lake Farm will now proceed with the full renovation plan, including the addition of two new indoor bathing areas for improved comfort and hygiene.
The renovation aims not only to enhance the well-being of the retired racehorses cared for at the farm but also to create a better working environment for the staff.
Located in Niikappu, Hokkaido, Northern Lake Farm is known as a retirement haven for Japan’s legendary racehorses. In addition to Meisho Doto — who recently appeared in the global version of Uma Musume on October 21, 2025 — the farm was also once home to Taiki Shuttle, another racing legend who passed away in August 2022.
(Source: kaorinusantara.or.id)
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