You're staring at the schedule in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby and honestly, it’s a mess. There are icons everywhere, flashing lights, and names of races that sound like they belong in a history textbook. Because, well, they do. Most of the uma musume race list is ripped straight from the real-life Japanese Central Horse Racing (JRA) calendar. If you want to stop guessing and start winning those URA Finals or Grand Masters runs, you have to know which turf to step on.
It’s not just about clicking the shiny button. It’s about "Fan Counts." It’s about "Skill Points." It’s about making sure your girl doesn't run out of stamina on a 3200m slog when she’s built like a sprinter.
Why the Uma Musume Race List is Your Bible
Every trainer has been there. You’ve got a 5-star Oguri Cap, her stats look incredible, and then—bam—you hit a wall because you missed a critical G1 entry. In this game, the uma musume race list isn’t just a menu. It’s a roadmap. The game splits races into four main tiers: G1, G2, G3, and those lower-tier OP (Open) or Pre-OP races.
G1 is where the money is. And by money, I mean fans and those precious Skill Points (PT). If you’re trying to trigger the best unique skill upgrades, you usually need a specific fan count by the end of December in Year 2 or Year 3. Missing the Arima Kinen or the Japan Cup isn't just a bummer; it can literally break your build.
The distance matters more than you think. You’ve got Sprints (up to 1400m), Mile (1401m–1800m), Medium (1801m–2400m), and Long (2401m+). If you take a Short-distance specialist like Sakura Bakushin O into the Tenno Sho (Spring), she’s going to come in last. Every time. Even if her Speed is 1200. Her heart just isn’t in it. Or her lungs. Mostly her lungs.
The Gritty Details of G1 Scheduling
Let's look at the heavy hitters. These are the races that define your career. The "Triple Crown" is the big one for many girls. Satsuki Sho (April, Year 2), Tokyo Yushun (the Japan Derby in May, Year 2), and the Kikuka Sho (October, Year 2).
✨ Don't miss: Minecraft Cool and Easy Houses: Why Most Players Build the Wrong Way
Winning all three? That gives you a massive stat boost and a unique title. But look at the distance jump. Satsuki is 2000m. The Derby is 2400m. Then suddenly, the Kikuka Sho demands 3000m. If you didn’t put enough points into Stamina or didn’t grab a "Maestro" recovery skill, your Triple Crown dreams die in the final straight.
Then you have the "Classic Triple Tiara" for the fillies. Oka Sho, Yushun Himba (Oaks), and Shuka Sho. It’s a different vibe, slightly shorter distances, but just as competitive.
Honestly, the uma musume race list gets really crowded in the Autumn of Year 2. You’ve got the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the Mile Championship, the Japan Cup, and the Arima Kinen all stacked together. You can't run them all. Your girl will get "fatigued." Her mood will drop. She might even get a "Nightmare" debuff. You have to pick your battles.
Understanding the Grade System (It’s Not Just Letters)
Most players ignore G3 races. Don't do that. G3s are the best way to fix a botched training session. If you have a turn where your support cards aren't showing up and you have nothing better to do, check the uma musume race list for a G3.
- G1 (Grade 1): The legends. Highest Fan gains. Usually 10,000 to 30,000+ fans.
- G2 (Grade 2): The stepping stones. Great for filling gaps.
- G3 (Grade 3): The "I need PT" races.
- OP/Pre-OP: Only do these if the game forces you to for a mission. They're basically training wheels.
Distance aptitudes are non-negotiable. An "A" in Medium distance means your girl runs at 100% efficiency. A "C" means she’s dragging an anchor. You can use inheritance (parents) to bump these up, but during the actual run, you’re stuck with what you’ve got.
🔗 Read more: Thinking game streaming: Why watching people solve puzzles is actually taking over Twitch
Dirt vs. Turf is another huge split. Most of the uma musume race list is Turf. If you're training someone like Haru Urara or Smart Falcon, you're looking for the Dirt schedule. These are mostly in the "February Stake" or the "Champions Cup." Dirt races are rare, so if you miss one, you might not see another G1 for months.
Real Examples: The "Fan Farm" Strategy
If you're aiming for a high score in the Arena, you need fans. A lot of them. Expert players use a "rotational" strategy.
In Year 2, they’ll hit the NHK Mile Cup in May, even if the girl is a Medium-distance runner, just to grab the extra 15,000 fans. Then they'll rest in June before the Summer Training camp hits. It’s all about the rhythm. The uma musume race list is a beat sheet. You play along or you get out of sync.
The Arima Kinen is the "Final Boss" of the regular season. It’s held on the last turn of December. It's a 2500m race at Nakayama. Nakayama is notorious for its steep hill at the end. If your Power stat is low, your girl will slow down right when she should be sprinting. It’s heart-breaking to watch.
Navigating the Seasonal Shifts
The game changes based on the month. Junior Year (Year 1) is slow. You’re just trying to qualify. Classic Year (Year 2) is the meat of the game. Senior Year (Year 3) is for polishing and hitting those final G1s you missed.
💡 You might also like: Why 4 in a row online 2 player Games Still Hook Us After 50 Years
Junior Year: The Build-Up
You start with the Debut race. Everyone gets that. After that, look for the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies or the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in December. These are the only G1s for Junior girls. They set the tone.
Classic Year: The Pressure
This is where the uma musume race list gets intense. April to October is a gauntlet. If you’re going for the Triple Crown, your training time is basically non-existent. You race, you recover, you race again. It’s a high-stress environment.
Senior Year: The Victory Lap
By now, you should have your core stats. You're looking for the "Spring Tenno Sho" (the long one) or the "Takarazuka Kinen." In the Fall, you repeat the big ones: Japan Cup and Arima Kinen.
Strategy for Non-Japanese Speakers
If you’re playing the Japanese version without a translation patch, the uma musume race list looks like a wall of kanji. Look at the colors.
Blue icons are usually Turf. Brown/Tan icons are Dirt.
The numbers like "2000m" or "1200m" are universal.
Pay attention to the little "clock" icon next to a race. If it’s there, it means that race is a "Goal" for your specific character’s story mode. You have to run those.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
Stop just clicking "Next." Start planning three months ahead.
- Check your Goals: Before you even start training, look at your character’s specific objectives. If she has a 3200m race in Year 3, you need to start building Stamina in Year 1.
- The June/December Rule: Always check the uma musume race list for late June and late December. These are the "half-year" milestones. Usually, there's a G1 like the Takarazuka Kinen or Arima Kinen. These offer huge fan boosts.
- Balance your PT: If you have 500 Skill Points but no skills to buy, you probably haven't raced enough. If you have 20 skills but your Speed is 400, you raced too much.
- Weather and Track Condition: It sounds like flavor text, but "Heavy" or "Bad" tracks slow everyone down. If the uma musume race list says it’s raining, make sure you have a "Rainy Day" or "Ground Condition" skill if you’re on the edge of qualifying.
The difference between a B-rank and an SS-rank girl is often just three or four well-timed G1 wins. Use the list, watch the calendar, and stop fearing the 3000m. Or, well, fear it a little—it's still a nightmare for your Stamina bar.
Plan your rest turns around the big races. Never train on "Low" energy right before a G1. The risk of a failure is too high, and a 15th-place finish in the Japan Derby is a stain on your soul you can't wash off. Just keep an eye on the schedule, keep your girl's mood at "Perfect," and the wins will follow.