Umamusume racer Gold Ship has an unbelievable IRL backstory

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As a devoted fan, it’s clear to me that Gold Ship stands out among the vibrant characters of Umamusume: Pretty Derby. This is no surprise, considering her real-life inspiration was one of the most extraordinary horses to grace the racetrack, known for its unique and unpredictable behavior.

Gold Ship, the unpredictable troublemaker, switches from boastfully kicking victory out of reach when you win races to instigating chaos amongst almost every other Uma on set. On occasion, she flat-out refuses training sessions and prefers to follow her own path instead.

I’ve instantly found myself among the enthusiasts who can’t get enough of this game, especially those from the West diving into it for the first time.

In another context, her gaming personality might seem a bit eccentric, but the horse that inspired her character, Gold Ship, is downright extraordinary. Known for causing approximately 83 million US dollars in losses during a single race, and engaging in aura farming by deliberately losing races then winning at the last second, Gold Ship is undeniably one of the most notorious racehorses in history.

Umamusume’s Gold Ship goes viral – but the real horse is even more insane

In Umamusume, each character is modeled after actual racehorses, and given Gold Ship’s impressive racing history, her backstory is quite intriguing and unusual.

Instead, consider this rephrased version: Gold Ship’s habit of playing around throughout the race, only to triumph at the finish line, showcases its power in the in-game anime representation of the horse.

She excels in strategically positioning herself at the rear and swiftly advancing to outpace others unexpectedly, a trait that significantly enhances her popularity among the game’s spectators.

This literally happened to @premier_two’s Gold Ship run lol.

— Esen (@esentries) July 5, 2025

The fact that she clinched victories at the last moment mirrors real-life scenarios, as horse experts speculate that the actual earnings of over 1.4 billion yen ($9.6 million) for the ‘Gold Ship’ could have been greater if it had consistently pursued wins in races.

Rather than always being focused on racing, he occasionally preferred to amuse himself and sometimes found no desire for competition. On his leisurely days, you’d find him playfully chasing butterflies, while even in retirement years, he displayed an exuberance that hinted at a hidden strength that remained largely unused with the horse.

In 2015, Gold Ship unexpectedly forfeited the Takarazuka Kinen race without cause, leading to approximately 12 billion yen in losses among bettors who had assumed he would win the competition with no complications.

The illustrious and eventful career of this horse significantly contributes to the widespread popularity of Gold Ship’s Umamusume adaptation among fans. While it’s clear that the developers have used their imagination with the original content, in reality, this racehorse was as unconventional as the game portrays them to be.

Gold Ship isn’t the only Umamusume horse gaining widespread popularity; even Haru Urara, who never won a race during her career, continues to draw attention long after her racing days.

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2025-07-07 01:18