Uma Musume Developer Announces Kentucky Derby 2026 Sponsorship
Cygames, the developer of the hit horse girl game Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, has announced that they will once again be sponsoring the Kentucky Derby.
The company has officially teamed up with Churchill Downs Racetrack to support the legendary American horse race in its 152nd year.
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is a massively popular mobile game and animated series where famous real-life racehorses are reimagined as athletic anime girls.
Players are tasked with training these spirited characters to win major championships and perform in spectacular live musical concerts.
The Kentucky Derby is widely recognized as the first jewel of the American Triple Crown and determines the strongest three-year-old thoroughbred in the United States.
Tracing its roots all the way back to 1875, the historic competition holds the record for the highest attendance of any equestrian event in the country.
Fans worldwide affectionately refer to the fast-paced and thrilling dash as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.
This year’s 152nd iteration will take place at the iconic Churchill Downs Racetrack located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jockeys and their trusted mounts will be fiercely competing for a share of a massive five million dollar total prize pool.
As part of this major collaboration, the developer will host its very own branded race titled “Pleasant Colony Presented by Cygames” on the day of the main event.
During this specific run, the corporate logo will be prominently displayed across the starting gates, the horse saddle towels, and the track markers near the finish line.
Organizers plan to reveal further details regarding the specific race conditions and entry requirements on the official event website at a later date.
The gaming publisher previously sponsored the 151st Kentucky Derby last year, successfully bridging the gap between traditional racing fans and international gamers.
During that previous celebration, attendees were able to enjoy special demo booths featuring playable versions of the developer’s most popular video games directly at the venue.
Cygames has also sponsored other horse racing events, with the 2025’s Breeder’s Cup being one of the most recent and recognisable to horse racing fans.
The “Pleasant Colony Presented by Cygames” race at the Kentucky Derby is officially scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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