Fans of this gacha game just raised a staggering amount of money for a run-down farm, all because of one in-game reference

Fans of the popular gacha game and anime series Umamusume: Pretty Derby recently raised a huge amount of money for a struggling horse farm. The Northern Lake Farm, which takes care of the retired racehorse Meisho Doto, started a crowdfunding campaign in October. Their goal was to raise 15 million yen, which is about $95,000 USD, to fix their old and broken stables.

But the campaign didn’t just meet that goal. It completely shattered it. When the fundraiser ended, they had raised almost 125 million yen, which is nearly $800,000 USD. That’s over 800% more than what they originally asked for. According to PC Gamer, the entire thing happened because of one horse and his connection to the game.

The reason fans donated so much money is because of Meisho Doto himself. He’s a real retired racehorse who inspired one of the “horse girl” characters in the Umamusume series. The farm needed money to fix their damaged horse buildings, but they never actually used Meisho Doto’s name to get more donations. They just wanted to repair their stables.

The fanbase took matters into their own hands

Fans of the game and anime didn’t need the farm to ask for help. They saw the campaign and started spreading the word on the internet. They used pictures and references to Meisho Doto’s horse girl character from the game to get more people interested.

In just two months, they turned a basic repair fund into a massive renovation budget worth eight figures. The dedication shown by this community rivals some of the most surprising incidents people have witnessed online recently.

Now that the farm has over 100 million yen, they can do much more than just basic fixes. They plan to buy and install treadmills for the horses. 

This equipment is important because it helps horses who need extra exercise, or those who can’t move around the pasture easily anymore, stay healthy and active. They’ll also replace all the fencing around the pastures, which is crucial for keeping the horses safe.

The huge success of the campaign means the new stable will be finished much sooner than expected. The farm now thinks the stable will be ready by March or April 2025. This means Meisho Doto and his companion Neko Punch can move out of their current run-down home much earlier than planned.

The farm was shocked by all the support they received. After the campaign closed on December 22, 2025, the Northern Lake X account posted a thank you message. They said they were grateful for all the generous support and warm messages, and promised to post a proper thank you soon.

This fundraiser is part of a bigger trend caused by the Umamusume series. Since the game ended its four-year Japan-only run earlier this year, the real horses that inspired the characters have been getting more attention. 

Farms are seeing more tourists visiting, and people are donating tons of grass for the retired horses to eat. The passionate response from fans shows how online communities can make a real difference, much like how celebrities use their platforms to support causes they believe in.