Cosmic_slimugoop

Haru Urara, the beloved racehorse known as the “star of the losers” who captured the hearts of many despite enduring a staggering 113-race losing streak at Kochi Racecourse, passed away in September 2025. Her presence continued to inspire courage in people far beyond the realm of winning and losing. Keiko Tanaka, a resident of Tokyo who lives with spinal muscular atrophy—a rare neuromuscular disease—and uses a wheelchair, was one of those deeply touched by her story. After Haru Urara’s final race in 2004, when news of her disappeared from the headlines, She worried anxiously that “she might have been disposed of after finishing her role.” Later, learning that Haru Urara was peacefully spending her retirement years at a farm in Chiba Prefecture brought her great relief. When Tanaka actually visited the farm and met Haru Urara in person, she recalled: “I was encouraged by the way she lived—never yielding to the fate given to her by humans, simply being herself as ‘I am me.’” Identifying with her own situation—someone who cannot live without the support of others—Tanaka drew strength to keep living positively. Wanting to express her gratitude to Haru Urara in a tangible way, Tanaka, who had no prior experience, began attending a music school and started vocal training from scratch. On December 28, 2025, at a live house in Tokyo, she performed two original songs themed around horse racing and delivered her message to Haru Urara in heaven:“You gave me the courage to live.” She says: “I hope not only the winning horses, but every horse that loses can live out their days peacefully.” She carries the message Haru Urara left behind close to her heart. Today, February 27, is Haru Urara's birthday.