was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse who achieved a record of zero wins and 113 losses in a career spanning from 1998 to 2004. Her unbroken losing streak was covered by Japanese media in 2003, causing her to achieve national popularity as a symbol of perseverance and tenacity.
Background Haru Urara, a bay mare, was foaled on February 27, 1996, on Nobuta Bokujo, Utafue, Mitsuishi, Hokkaido. She was sired by , a top-class racehorse whose wins included the Autumn Tenno Sho and the Yasuda Kinen. Unable to find a buyer, the farm began training her as a racehorse.
Racing career 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 without winning.
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 , for continuing to run, despite her losing streak. This surge in popularity was dubbed "The Haru Urara Boom", and news about Haru Urara reached the international community.
During the boom, Haru Urara betting tickets began to be used as o-mamori, particularly for protection against traffic accidents: the word in Japanese can mean both "to lose a bet" and "to avoid being struck", so it was said that a Haru Urara betting ticket could protect the owner's car from being hit. 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. They were instead replaced with wooden plaques.
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. Despite being ridden by Japan's premier jockey, Yutaka Take, Haru Urara earned her 106th consecutive loss, placing 10th among 11 horses running.
Her name means "Glorious Spring" or "Gentle Spring". 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."
Haru Urara ran her last race in August 2004 and retired with a record of 0 wins and 113 losses.
Racing record
The following racing form is based on information available on JBIS search and netkeiba.com.
DateRacecourseRaceGradeDistanceGateOddsFav.Fin.TimeMarginJockeyWinner (Runner-Up)1998 – three-year-old season1998/11/17KochiThree-Year-Olds 3Dirt 1000m335th1:09.23.4F.FurukawaGallopski1998/12/13KochiThree-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1000m165th1:07.52.3F.FurukawaEasy Queen1998/12/31KochiThree-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1000m556th1:08.73.4S.TokudomeEasy King1999 – four-year-old season1999/01/10KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m475th1:31.92.8S.TokudomeSweet King1999/01/30KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m376th1:32.92.9S.TokudomeHarima Ichimonji1999/02/13KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m644th1:29.91.1S.TokudomeMulti Iruseta1999/02/27KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m521:27.40.4Y.TokudomeTomino Chanel1999/03/21KochiFour-Year-Olds 3Dirt 1300m7810th1:27.12.5T.YamakitaEvlos Fit1999/04/05KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m154th1:29.11.0Y.TokudomeNissei Rinden1999/04/19KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m464th1:26.61.1Y.TokudomeWild Clover1999/05/04KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m1051:27.20.5Y.TokudomeOdaken Harmony1999/05/22KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m615th1:29.80.6F.FurukawaTenju Noko1999/06/19KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m676th1:25.40.2Y.TokudomeSilver Touch1999/07/10KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m176th1:27.71.7Y.TokudomeEasy King1999/08/07KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m388th1:27.12.0Y.TokudomeKanetoshi True Bs1999/08/28KochiFour-Year-Olds 4Dirt 1300m366th1:26.72.6Y.TokudomeEishin Malone1999/09/06KochiFour-Year-Olds 5Dirt 1300m455th1:26.52.0F.FurukawaLaurel Sniper1999/09/20KochiC68Dirt 1300m177th1:26.83.1F.FurukawaDaikou Angel1999/10/04KochiC68Dirt 1300m621:27.50.0K.ImamuraPot Man Dyna1999/11/02KochiC65Dirt 1300m456th1:26.51.5Y.TokudomeHana no Euro1999/11/23KochiC66Dirt 1000m767th1:06.41.7K.ImamuraSnark Sunrise1999/12/19KochiC67Dirt 1300m455th1:28.02.0K.ImamuraKiyoraka Sparrow1999/12/30KochiC67Dirt 1300m354th1:28.30.6K.ImamuraBlue Wembley2000 – five-year-old season2000/01/16KochiC68Dirt 1300m347th1:28.52.2K.ImamuraSafety Arrow2000/02/07KochiC67Dirt 1300m478th1:27.73.2H.MiyagawaKanetoshi Ability2000/03/18KochiC68Dirt 1300m864th1:29.83.3H.MiyagawaSafety Arrow2000/04/23KochiC67Dirt 1300m675th1:27.42.9H.MiyagawaKane Mizuki2000/04/29KochiC62Dirt 1300m158th1:28.14.1H.MiyagawaJudi Urban2000/05/14KochiC67Dirt 1300m867th1:28.33.3H.MiyagawaLand Atlas2000/06/12KochiC66Dirt 1300m157th1:25.63.6K.ImamuraBamboo Pino2000/07/02KochiC63Dirt 1300m356th1:26.64.1K.ImamuraBamboo Pino2000/07/16KochiC63Dirt 1300m175th1:27.21.8K.ImamuraGolden Tolomeo2000/08/07KochiC65Dirt 1300m554th1:27.61.6K.ImamuraGolden Tolomeo2000/08/28KochiC64Dirt 1300m234th1:28.52.9H.MiyagawaOne For All2000/09/16KochiC63Dirt 1300m957th1:25.83.2H.MiyagawaStrong Max2000/09/30KochiC63Dirt 1300m176th1:27.92.9H.MiyagawaStrong Max2000/10/16KochiC64Dirt 1300m156th1:30.02.0Y.OgataTaiki Liberty2000/11/04KochiC63Dirt 1300m947th1:29.33.6Y.OgataTaiki Liberty2000/11/26KochiC62Dirt 1300m645th1:29.43.1S.MyojinInter Shark2000/12/09KochiC62Dirt 1300m368th1:29.92.7Y.OgataInter Shark2000/12/30KochiC63Dirt 1300m248th1:31.02.9F.FurukawaGolden Shake2001 – six-year-old season2001/01/22KochiC64Dirt 1300m9710th1:31.15.6F.FurukawaKona Sunset2001/02/05KochiC66Dirt 1300m656th1:27.83.3K.ImamuraHama Okan2001/02/25KochiC64Dirt 1300m765th1:30.82.9K.ImamuraEishin Caerleon2001/03/11KochiC64Dirt 1300m378th1:30.32.6F.FurukawaIbuki Cycle2001/04/02KochiEDirt 1300m299th1:30.73.8Y.OgataTosano Big2001/04/23KochiEDirt 1300m858th1:28.92.9K.ImamuraTribune2001/05/05KochiEDirt 1300m269th1:28.12.5H.MiyagawaAsakusa Tablet2001/06/03KochiEDirt 1300m998th1:29.33.5K.ImamuraGambarino2001/07/01KochiEDirt 1300m141:28.71.5K.ImamuraAdvance Movie2001/07/15KochiEDirt 1300m669th1:28.82.3K.ImamuraSakura Asset2001/08/05KochiEDirt 1300m149th1:30.62.0K.ImamuraTosagin Win B2001/08/27KochiEDirt 1300m944th1:30.72.2K.ImamuraSilk Sunshine2001/09/09KochiEDirt 1300m141:27.30.2K.ImamuraSeto Brave2001/10/07KochiEDirt 1300m577th1:29.32.1F.FurukawaVery Very2001/10/20KochiEDirt 1300m761:28.80.7K.ImamuraKiyoraka Sparrow2001/11/05KochiEDirt 1300m328th1:28.52.2Y.OgataGuinness Book2001/11/23KochiEDirt 1300m177th1:31.22.7F.FurukawaKaiyou Heat2001/12/15KochiEDirt 1300m779th1:29.32.6F.FurukawaMeiner Gabe2001/12/31KochiEDirt 1300m1058th1:31.31.9H.MiyagawaFeeling Raijin2002 – seven-year-old season2002/01/19KochiEDirt 1300m649th1:30.62.8K.ImamuraAino Golden2002/02/16KochiEDirt 1300m1710th1:30.83.6K.ImamuraIbuki Rise Up2002/03/09KochiEDirt 1300m866th1:29.71.4K.ImamuraYuubi Shop2002/03/30KochiEDirt 1300m978th1:29.02.3Y.OgataKijou Kodama2002/04/28KochiEDirt 1300m687th1:30.62.5Y.OgataLovely George2002/05/05KochiEDirt 1300m481:26.50.8Y.OgataJust Touch2002/05/13KochiEDirt 1300m366th1:28.32.0Y.OgataRemain Guts2002/05/26KochiEDirt 1400m736th1:35.41.3Y.OgataEast Pegasus2002/06/23KochiEDirt 1400m757th1:36.91.7F.FurukawaAsahi Tension2002/07/22KochiEDirt 1400m354th1:36.62.2F.FurukawaEishin Tempe2002/08/12KochiEDirt 1300m571:27.20.3Y.TokajiNamura Hiden2002/08/31KochiEDirt 1300m568th1:28.02.4F.FurukawaWith Honesty2002/09/14KochiEDirt 1400m189th1:38.03.2Y.TokajiTomoe Moule2002/10/13KochiEDirt 1400m10107th1:37.21.9S.HanamotoHatshepsu2002/10/29KochiEDirt 1300m148th1:31.02.4M.UedaSan M.Papillon2002/11/24KochiEDirt 1300m587th1:30.51.7Y.TokajiBamboo Byblos2002/12/07KochiEDirt 1400m136th1:35.11.9M.UedaDivine Call2002/12/22KochiEDirt 1300m444th1:28.50.5M.UedaHikaru Sazan Cross2003 – eight-year-old season2003/01/01KochiEDirt 1400m335th1:37.52.6M.UedaToushin Koban2003/01/18KochiEDirt 1300m448th1:30.42.6M.UedaCloune2003/02/10KochiEDirt 1300m776th1:27.61.6F.FurukawaSilk Ability2003/03/01KochiEDirt 1300m987th1:28.82.6F.FurukawaMeiner Pensee2003/03/10KochiE 2nd RaceDirt 1300m156th1:30.01.9H.MiyagawaMarutaka Blizzard2003/03/17KochiEDirt 1400m267th1:35.91.4F.FurukawaKamui Fujin2003/04/27KochiGDirt 1300m966th1:29.21.6M.UedaHeisei Kagura2003/05/10KochiGDirt 1300m787th1:29.93.4H.MiyagawaTitanic O2003/05/17KochiGDirt 1300m454th1:29.10.5M.MiyagawaY.B.Surf2003/06/07KochiG3Dirt 1300m176th1:29.23.4F.FurukawaMeiner Trust2003/06/21KochiG5 2nd RaceDirt 1300m558th1:28.02.5M.UedaYugiri Jo2003/07/05KochiG2Dirt 1300m748th1:28.53.5H.MiyagawaJono Jimbaran2003/07/27KochiG2Dirt 1300m1027th1:30.33.5K.KawaeMeiner Vintage2003/08/10KochiG2Dirt 1300m625th1:30.01.0F.FurukawaYamahisa Teio2003/08/24KochiG2Dirt 1000m938th1:07.31.7F.FurukawaMinonoto Sama2003/09/07KochiGanbare!! Haru UraraDirt 1300m1029th1:30.52.6F.FurukawaCorbin Swan2003/09/28KochiHaru Urara o Oen suruDirt 1300m425th1:30.11.3F.FurukawaTurf in Flight2003/10/13KochiF5Dirt 1300m116th1:28.42.3Y.OgataCorbin Swan2003/10/25KochiUrara Otanjobi Kinen TokubetsuDirt 1300m127th1:32.12.8M.UedaMarutaka Crafty2003/11/09KochiOuchi e Kaero CLUDirt 1300m121:28.82.3F.FurukawaNews Flash2003/11/30KochiUrara no Hon January 2004Dirt 1300m721:28.32.0F.FurukawaZenno Takamoku2003/12/14KochiHaru Urara 100 SenkiDirt 1300m519th1:29.92.1F.FurukawaKanekome Hikari2004 – nine-year-old season2004/01/02KochiOuchi e Kaero CLUDirt 1300m117th1:31.51.6F.FurukawaTakano Bakushin2004/01/11KochiGanbaru Kochi Keiba GekireiDirt 1300m10310th1:31.93.3F.FurukawaSea Riant2004/02/01KochiHaru Urara Kanko KoroshaDirt 1300m716th1:32.00.5F.FurukawaKanetoshi Freedom2004/02/15KochiKochi o Marugoto ItadaDirt 1300m337th1:32.01.5F.FurukawaGrail Mining2004/02/29KochiTassuiga wa, IkanDirt 1300m1119th1:29.02.2F.FurukawaGrail Mining2004/03/22KochiYS Derby JockeyDirt 1300m5110th1:28.62.2Y.TakeFast Bounce2004/04/18KochiMinna GanbatterunDirt 1300m625th1:30.71.5F.FurukawaCanyon Daikan2004/05/05KochiHaru Urara Asunaro TokubetsuDirt 1300m1126th1:30.31.3F.FurukawaSuzuma Saru2004/05/23KochiHaru Urara Sanka: HatsuDirt 1300m521:30.90.3F.FurukawaGreen Seresa2004/06/13KochiShou Umi Fukaku Chiyo no Sora e Tokubetsu (F7)Dirt 1300m611:30.91.8F.FurukawaSuzuma Saru2004/06/27KochiOtoko no Kunsho ☆ GanbatteDirt 1300m515th1:28.91.2F.FurukawaRainbow Shuttle2004/07/11KochiUrara Summer RayDirt 1300m324th1:29.60.8F.FurukawaMany Memory2004/08/03KochiHaru Urara ChallengeDirt 1300m335th1:28.93.7F.FurukawaOnozomi Doori
Retirement and death Originally, it was announced that Haru Urara would be returned from Tochigi where she was recuperating for a retirement race scheduled in March 2005. However, her return was soon postponed before officially being classified as retired by the NAR in October 2006, never returning to Kochi. Post retirement, there were plans to have her breed with Deep Impact as well as Stay Gold but those never materialized. Once those plans fell through, she was transported by her owner at the time in 2013 to the Matha Farm in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture, where she lived until her death. At Matha Farm, Haru Urara became a minor PR character in 2018 when she was featured in a traffic safety poster of the Kisarazu Police Station.