How a manga about a racing horse girl revitalized a Japanese racecourse
In short: Beyond the screen, Umamusume: Cinderella Gray has real-world impact. This spinoff manga, centered on the career of Oguri Cap, didn't just win awards; it helped restore the reputation of Kasamatsu Racecourse following a major race-fixing scandal.
Depicting Oguri Cap's career, this manga was penned by Masafumi Sugiura and drawn by Taiyou Kuzumi. The story begins with Oguri Cap as a young racer with a massive appetite competing in regional races at her hometown of Kasamatsu. Under the guidance of trainer Jo Kitahara and her friend Belno Light, she eventually moves into the high-profile Twinkle Series, competing against elite domestic and international rivals to become a national idol.
The cultural impact of the franchise extends into physical tourism and sports. A collaboration between the series and Kasamatsu Racecourse—the real-life home of the horse that inspired the character—drove a record number of visitors to the track. This surge in interest was credited with revitalizing the venue after its reputation had been damaged by a race-fixing scandal the previous year.
The series has seen significant critical and commercial success. The manga was a runner-up in the seventh Next Manga Awards for Best Print Manga, placing second among 50 nominees. The anime adaptation, produced by CygamesPictures, achieved global popularity, reaching the number one spot in the AniLab Global Weekly Anime Rankings four times between April and June 2025. It was also named the Anime of the Year by the Anime Trending Awards, a feat described as a 'true Cinderella story' because it topped the final rankings despite not leading the weekly rankings throughout the season.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Umamusume: Cinderella Gray
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