Nakayama Festa, the celebrated thoroughbred who captured the 2010 Takarazuka Kinen and inspired a beloved character in Cygames' Umamusume: Pretty Derby, has passed away at the age of 20. Retirement home Urakawa Yushun Village AERU confirmed that the stallion’s health precipitously declined earlier this month. Despite intensive veterinary care, Nakayama Festa passed away peacefully on August 23 surrounded by his longtime caretakers. The official global channels for Umamusume: Pretty Derby extended deep condolences to the farm's staff and supporters following the news.
A Storied Legacy on the Turf
Born in 2006 to sire Stay Gold and dam Dear Wink, Nakayama Festa compiled an extraordinary racing career under the guidance of the Miho Training Centre. Across 15 career starts, he secured 5 victories, headlined by a triumphant run in the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen in 2010. However, international racing enthusiasts remember him most for his heroic performance at the 2010 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France, where he finished second by a mere neck—marking the closest a Japanese-bred racehorse has ever come to capturing Europe's premier title.
In the multimedia world of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Nakayama Festa was brought to life by voice actress Shino Shimoji. Portrayed as a thrill-seeking risk-taker with a penchant for gambling alongside her frequent partner-in-crime Gold Ship, the character captured the spirit of her real-world counterpart. His passing marks a solemn chapter for the franchise and horse racing fans alike, highlighting the poignant connection between real-world turf legends and their anime counterparts.
