Umamusume’s real-world takeover continues by sponsoring $300,000 US horse race

Cygames continues to push Umamusume: Pretty Derby into the real world, this time by sponsoring a major U.S. Grade 1 horse race.

The Japanese developer was the title sponsor of the American Oaks presented by Cygames, which took place at Santa Anita Park on December 28, 2025. Social media posts from the venue showed Umamusume fans cosplaying in the stands and sharing photos and videos of horse girl outfits throughout the race.

First held in 1982, the American Oaks is classified as a Grade 1 race, the sport’s highest level, and offers a $300,000 prize pool. It regularly attracts top horses and jockeys from around the world and is held during Santa Anita’s winter racing season, making it a major end-of-year highlight on the racing calendar.

The 2025 edition was won by US racehorse Ambaya, who closed out the weekend event to take home the prize money and title as Umamusume fans cheered on.

Cygames has spent the past year steadily expanding its presence across real-world horse racing, riding the global momentum of Umamusume following its long-awaited international release.

Earlier in 2025, the devs were confirmed as the main sponsor of one of Europe’s most historic races, the Grand Prix de Paris. The event, first run in 1863, was officially renamed the Cygames Grand Prix de Paris and held at ParisLongchamp Racecourse, with a €600,000 prize pool headlining the card.

Back in April, the devs also backed the 151st Kentucky Derby, sponsoring the Unbridled Sidney Stakes on Kentucky Oaks Day and bringing playable demos of several of its games to Churchill Downs.