(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Haru Urara - Wikipedia
Wikipedia

Haru Urara

Haru Urara (ハルウララ) is a Japanese racehorse. The horse gained nationwide popularity in 2003, not due to her success, but rather, due to a long string of consecutive losses.

Haru Urara[1]
SireNippo Teio[1]
GrandsireLypheor[1]
DamHeroine[1]
DamsireLucky Sovereign[1]
SexMare[1]
Foaled (1996-02-27) 27 February 1996 (age 28)[2][1]
CountryJapan
ColourBay[1]
BreederNobuta Bokujo[1]
OwnerNobuta Bokujo
Takao Yokoyama
M A Office
Haru Urara no Kai
TrainerDai Muneishi
Record113: 0-5-7[1]
Earnings1,129,000 Yen[1]
Major wins
None
Last updated on December 2, 2022

Background

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Haru Urara, a bay mare, was foaled on February 27, 1996, on Nobuta Bokujo,[3] Utafue, Mitsuishi, Hokkaido. She was sired by Nippo Teio, a top-class racehorse whose wins included the Tenno Sho and the Yasuda Kinen.[4] Unable to find a buyer for their filly, the farm began training Haru Urara as a racehorse, under their own ownership.

Racing career

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At her debut, on November 17, 1998 at the Kōchi Racetrack, Haru Urara lost, placing fifth—and last. Over the next four-and-a-half years, she would compete once or twice every month, but was unable to obtain a single victory.

In June 2003, after garnering her 80th consecutive loss, the story was picked up by the national Japanese media, making "Haru Urara" a household name. She quickly became very popular in Japan, and was called "the shining star of losers everywhere" (負まけ組ぐみの星ほし, makegumi no hoshi), for continuing to run with all her heart, despite her seemingly endless losing streak. This surge in popularity was dubbed "The Haru Urara Boom", and news about Haru Urara even reached the international community, being reported in the United States, Canada, Germany and elsewhere.[5]

During the boom, Haru Urara betting tickets began to be used as o-mamori, particularly for protection against traffic accidents: the word "ataranai" (当あたらない) in Japanese can mean both "to lose a bet" and "to avoid being struck", so it was said that a Haru Urara betting ticket—a guaranteed loss—could protect the owner's car from being hit.[6] In September 2003, the Kōchi Prefecture Horse Racing Association introduced a service wherein they would stamp the word on any betting ticket related to Haru Urara. O-mamori were also created from mane and tail hairs that were said to have fallen out during brushing, but production was soon halted, due to concerns expressed by animal welfare groups.

At a race held on March 22, 2004, during the peak of her popularity, more than 13,000 spectators packed the Kochi Racetrack, 3,000 of whom had gathered outside before the gates opened, forcing the track to open 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Some people waited in line for up to five hours to buy tickets at the "Haru Urara Commemorative Ticket Booth", which was established especially for the event. Fans bet a grand total of ¥121,751,200 on a Haru Urara victory, an impressive sum, particularly for a horse that had not won once in more than 100 attempts. The race ended in disappointment, but not surprise: despite being ridden by Japan's premier jockey, Yutaka Take, Haru Urara earned her 106th consecutive loss, placing 10th among 11 horses running.[7]

"Haru Urara" means beauty of spring in English, and it is also an idiom of the warm climate of spring in Japan, and its beautiful name is also said to be one of the reasons why Haru Urara became popular. Numerous products using Haru Urara's name or image have been produced, including stuffed toys, key rings, mobile phone straps, stickers, stamps, train tickets, rice, shochu, hats, T-shirts and bras. A number of books and songs, as well as a film, were also written about Haru Urara during the boom period. The Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said "I'd like to see Haru Urara win, even just once. The horse is a good example of not giving up in the face of defeat."[5]

Haru Urara ran her last race in August 2004 and retired with a record of 0 wins and 113 losses.

Retirement

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Originally, it was announced that Haru Urara would be returned from Tochigi where she was recuperating for a retirement race scheduled on March 2005.[8] However, her return was soon postponed[9] before officially being classified as retired by the NAR on October 2006, never returning to Kochi. [10][11]

Post retirement, there were plans to have her breed with Deep Impact as well as Stay Gold but never materialized.[12][13][14] Once those plans fell through, she was transported by her owner at the time in 2013 to the Martha Farm in Onjuku, Chiba where she has lived since.[15][16]

At Martha Farm, Haru Urara became a minor PR character in 2018 when she was featured in a traffic safety poster of the Kisarazu Police Station.[17][18][19][14]

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An anthromorphized version of Haru Urara appears as a character in both the anime and game of Uma Musume Pretty Derby,[20][21] and fans have since come to visit the real life Haru Urara at Martha Farm.[14][22]

Biffy Clyro's 2021 album The Myth of the Happily Ever After features a track inspired by Haru Urara, sharing her name, written about optimism and joy in the face of failure.[23]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Haru Urara (JPN), bay mare 1996[2]
Sire
Nippo Teio 		Lypheor Lyphard Northern Dancer
Goofed
Klaizia Sing Sing
Klainia
Chiyoda Masako Lover John Damascus
Evening Primrose
Miss O Hayabusa Partholon
World Hayabusa
Dam
Heroine 		Lucky Sovereign Nijinsky Northern Dancer
Flaming Page
Sovereign Pardao
Urshalim
Peerless Lady Tesco Boy Princely Gift
Suncourt
East Side Partholon
Miss Hakuryu (Family:12)[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Haru Urara(JPN)". Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  2. ^ a b "Haru Urara pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  3. ^ "Haru Urara(JPN)". Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  4. ^ "Nippo Teio(JPN)". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  5. ^ a b "Losing Racehorse Charms Japan". CBS News. 2004-03-22. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  6. ^ Rogers, Mike (2005). Schizophrenic in Japan: An American Ex-pat's Guide to Japanese And American Society/politics & Humor. iUniverse. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-595-34662-2.
  7. ^ "Japanese cheer on no-hope horse". BBC News. 2004-04-22. Archived from the original on 2004-04-02. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  8. ^ "ハルウララ 引退いんたいレース予定よてい通どおり 馬主ばしゅら会見かいけん". Kochi Shimbun (in Japanese). Kochi, Japan. 2005-01-05. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  9. ^ "ウララ引退いんたいレース延期えんき 馬主ばしゅ「体調たいちょう回復かいふくを優先ゆうせん」". Kochi Shimbun (in Japanese). Kochi, Japan. 2005-02-11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  10. ^ "ハルウララ正式せいしき引退いんたい 競走きょうそう馬ば登録とうろく抹消まっしょうへ". Kochi Shimbun (in Japanese). Kochi, Japan. 2006-10-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  11. ^ "地方ちほう競馬けいば データ情報じょうほう ハルウララ". keiba.go.jp (in Japanese). National Association of Racing. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  12. ^ "ダメ馬ばハルウララは「馬肉ばにく」にされてしまった!?" [Bad horse Haru Urara was turned in to "horse meat"!?]. Shukan Shincho (in Japanese). No. 53. Shinchosha. 2008-05-01. p. 73.
  13. ^ "113連敗れんぱいハルウララにディープインパクト種付たねつけ計画けいかく" [The breeding plan with Deep Impact for Haru Urara, who has a 113 losing streak]. Shukan Shincho (in Japanese). Vol. 54. 2009-12-17. p. 49.
  14. ^ a b c Kensaku, Wakui (2018-10-29). "113連敗れんぱいハルウララに会あいに行いく。ほしよりこが描えがくワガママな素顔すがお。". Number web. Bungeishunju. Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  15. ^ "新しんサポートホース・ハルウララ「春はるうららの会かい」" (in Japanese). The Retired Horse Association. 2014-07-15. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  16. ^ "【復刻ふっこく】負まけ組ぐみの星ほし ハルウララ千せん葉ようにいた｜極ごくウマ・プレミアム". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2022-03-01. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  17. ^ "元もと競走きょうそう馬ば・ハルウララ起用きよう 「一生いっしょうクルマに当あたらないで」 千葉ちば県警けんけい木更津きさらづ署しょの交通こうつう安全あんぜんポスターが話題わだい". 産経さんけいニュース (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 2018-08-22. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  18. ^ "ハルウララに感謝かんしゃ状じょう 戦績せんせき生いかし交通こうつう安全あんぜん貢献こうけん ニンジン６００キロも 木更津きさらづ署しょ". www.chibanippo.co.jp (in Japanese). Chiba Nippo. 2018-08-25. Archived from the original on 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  19. ^ "車しゃに「当あたらないで」 １１３連敗れんぱいハルウララ 交通こうつう安全あんぜんに一役ひとやく 木更津きさらづ署しょ、ポスター作製さくせい". www.chibanippo.co.jp (in Japanese). Chiba Nippo. 2018-07-27. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  20. ^ "キャラクター一覧いちらん | ウマ娘むすめ プリティーダービー 公式こうしきポータルサイト｜Cygames". ウマ娘むすめ プリティーダービー 公式こうしきポータルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  21. ^ "TVアニメ『ウマ娘むすめ プリティーダービー』公式こうしきサイト". TVアニメ『ウマ娘むすめ プリティーダービー』公式こうしきサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  22. ^ Tatsunori, Tokushige (2021-06-02). "「ウマ娘むすめ」大だいヒットで20代だいの競馬けいばファン増加ぞうか中ちゅう "ハルウララ"ファーム見学けんがくは予約よやくでいっぱいに". Daily Shinchō (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  23. ^ "Biffy Clyro on how life, death and a Japanese horse shaped their new album". NME. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  24. ^ "Royal Mare - Family 12". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
 
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