Legendary Japanese Racehorse Gentildonna Featured in Umamusume Passes Away

Gentildonna, one of the greatest racehorses in Japanese racing history and the inspiration for a character in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, has died at age 16. The Sunday Thoroughbred Club announced her death on Wednesday, November 26. While the cause was not revealed, the announcement said Gentildonna “passed away peacefully” at Northern Farm in Hokkaido, where she had lived since retiring from racing in 2014.

Cygames, the developer of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, shared condolences following her death. Gentildonna was added to the game in August 2024 after being announced during the third anniversary celebration of the Japanese version. She has not yet appeared in the global version of the game.

It is with heavy hearts that we share that Gentildonna passed away on November 25.

The legendary racehorse’s legacy serves as the inspiration for the character of the same name in Umamusume: Pretty Derby.

We share our condolences to all the staff involved in Gentildonna’s care.

— Umamusume: Pretty Derby (@umamusume_eng) November 26, 2025

Born on February 20, 2009, Gentildonna was sired by Triple Crown winner Deep Impact and British mare Donna Blini. Despite her strong bloodline, her racing career started slowly with a second-place finish in her debut race in 2011. Everything changed in 2012. As a three-year-old, Gentildonna won the fillies’ Triple Tiara—the Oka Sho, Japanese Oaks, and Shuka Sho—becoming only the fourth mare in Japanese racing history to achieve this feat. She defeated Verxina, another legendary mare, in all three races.

Later that year, she became the first three-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup, beating top competitors including Triple Crown winner Orfevre. These achievements earned her the Japanese Horse of the Year award in 2012. After retiring from racing, Gentildonna became a broodmare at Northern Farm. She retired from breeding in July 2025.

Gentildonna is the third racehorse that inspired an Umamusume character to die this year, following Grass Wonder in August and Haru Urara in September.